Having just watched this movie again after seeing it in its original theatrical run back in the early 80's, I can truly say I was more impressed by it the second time around. Several comments here have pointed out the nuances in the film. Let me point to one more. Rarely has a movie used a passage of scripture so effectively. Billy Kwan (Linda Hunt) mentions to Guy Hamilton (Mel Gibson) at the film's beginning Luke 3:10. His simple rephrasing of it is, "What must we do?" It's a question that haunts the character throughout life. I went back and reread it after the movie. John the Baptist has just called the Pharisees a brood of vipers for not practicing their religion with any measure of compassion. In answer to their question "what must we do?", he instructs them to share their excess of clothing and food with those less fortunate. Billy dies tragically in the film while hanging a banner which reads "Sukarno, Feed Your People." It is the poverty and oppression of the people which drives Billy throughout his brief life, even as he recognizes the futility of his own efforts.
Review of The Year of Living Dangerously
