This brilliant movie is so timely! Our hearts go out to the people of East Timor who are yet again going through what "Answered by Fire" brought to light. The acting was sensitive and superb by all participants. The action particularly the scenes when people were trying to scale the barbed wire on top of the walls was handled far better than so many similar American productions. We don't always need graphic blood and guts technicolour with loud noise to convey the horror of a scene. The silence can be chilling and tends to zoom the mind into focus on the reality. The acting of the Timorese people was so real that we felt a bond develop and our thoughts are even more with them now in their present predicament. It is our opinion that this film deserves wider showing and yet again we hope that our very fine Australian Film Industry gets recognition for the excellence of their productions. The down-to-earth genuine presentation of stories in our films cannot be rivalled by so many of the American films that are punched out and fed to us over here. No need for heaps of trick lighting with venetian blinds, much filming in the dark and close-ups of talking heads and meaningful looks. Give us a sensitive Aussie male like Wenham anyday. About the title, as we aren't aware if the film was taken from a book or written especially for TV. Could you please explain how the writer came up with the name Answered by Fire. There are many explanations we can come up with, but would like to know the answer to this question. One more comment we would like to make is how well the two different worlds of culture were portrayed with the "back at home" scenes. We spent 3 years as Missionaries in Bulgaria 10 years ago and experienced reverse culture shock upon re-entry. A heart that is left behind with other people you have loved takes time to heal...you are never the same again. We have been suitably stirred by this great film and feel a love for the people of East Timor as a result. Go Aussie films!!!!
