Political turmoil in Indonesia in 1965 is covered by an Australian journalist. Among his contacts is a British Embassy assistant, Jill, with whom he falls in love.

Has Peter Weir ever made a bad film? Genuinely tense and believable recreation of a coup, where the romance feels genuine and not a plot artifice. Knockout performance by Linda Hunt, and make up your own mind about which of the leads is more gorgeous (actually, it's Mel).

Maurice Jarre contributes an excellent score, which is itself eclipsed by use of a Vangelis track called L'Enfant.