Importance of the beginning of the film Punitive Damage

The film opens with white captions on a black background with the magnified and dramatic sound of typewriting which instantly captures the audiences attention. The date, 12th November 1991, are the first words to appear so we know immediately when this documentary is set. The captions also introduce Max Stahl and the massacre he has filmed. The typewriting sound effects fade out and screams, sirens and gunshots are heard which prepare us for the visuals we are about to see. We are then presented with powerful and shocking footage of the 1991 Dili massacre. It is within a small window and the rest of the screen is black. This is a strong contrast

The film then cuts to a mid-shot of Helen Todd, Kamal’s mother, although we do not know who she is yet. Todd is quite factual and matter-of-fact about the events leading up to her son’s death and the East Timorese music, which continues to play, keeps our emotions up. She states simply what she believes, “They simply tried to disappear him”.

The screen then switches to a photograph of Kamal as there is a voiceover, “…fears for a New Zealander caught in a massacre…”. Although we do not know who Kamal is yet, the voiceover links the massacre with the boy in the photograph and also lets the audience know that he is a New Zealander. The soundtrack then changes again to familiar news music and we see John Hawkesby confirming the death of New Zealander, Kamal Bamadhaij. Hawkesby is important as many New Zealanders recognise him as an official newsperson and again reinforces that his death and the massacre is real. The footage of the massacre is returned to, but widens to a full screen as our understanding of what has happened also widens. This time, instead of screams, it is accompanied by haunting music performed by Timorese exiles, setting the melencoly tone for the rest of the film. This music is returned to several times throughout the film

Some topics in this essay:
Max Stahl, Helen Todd, Kamal Goldson, Rights Indonesians, Hawkesby Zealanders, East Timorese, Hopkins Goldson, East Timor, Annie Goldson, Todd Kamal’s, film cuts, film punitive damage, east timorese, black background, beginning documentary, reminds audience, adds authenticity, film punitive, dili massacre, kamal voiceover, jerky camera,