THE bloody history of one of our nearest neighbours will be revisited in a special fund-raising screening in Yarraville.
The Australian premiere of Bloodshot: The Dreams and Nightmares of East Timor will screen at the Sun Theatre to raise funds for Cinema Lorosa’e, a community screening project in East Timor.
Sun Theatre operator and Cinema Lorosa’e founder Michael Smith says the money will enable the free mobile, outdoor cinema to continue to travel around East Timor.
Staff travel around villages, setting up a projector and inflatable screen each night then inviting the villagers to see the film.
“We run about 30 minutes of pre-show, including locally made short films, educational films and local current affairs-style programs.”
Mr Smith says it’s a rare treat for many of the villages, which have limited TV and power.
Cinema Lorosa’e is in its second year and Mr Smith wants to see it become a permanent fixture on the East Timor calendar.
The project relies on sponsors such as Toll and Rently and the support of the Yarraville community through fund-raising screenings at the Sun, gifts from local traders, and dubbing by local sound studio Magic Sound Company.
Funds will also be raised from next week’s screening of Peter Gordon’s documentary Bloodshot.
It shows East Timor 20 years after Gordon’s crew filmed Cold Blood, which opened the world’s eyes to the Santa Cruz cemetery massacre in which about 270 people were killed by occupying Indonesian armed forces.
Gordon’s latest documentary traces the effect the first filming had on the crew. Its members included cameraman Max Stahl and Melbourne researcher Kirsty Sword, who went on to work for the underground movement and eventually to marry prime minister Xanana Gusmão.
Gordon said: “The film touches on universal issues, such as sacrifice and reconciliation that could be applicable to many places and would be of interest to any individual of any nationality.”
The film focuses on personal stories Gordon hopes will be a point of connection for understanding East Timor’s history.
Bloodshot: The Dreams and Nightmares of East Timor screens at the Sun Theatre at 7pm on October 10.
