Overview
A journalist's first assignment spirals into a passionate affair amidst political turmoil.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- tense
- sweeping
- melancholic
- historical film night
- political drama evening
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a smart, suspenseful political romance elevated by strong performances and atmospheric direction, despite some concerns that its imagery and information overwhelm the plot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Guy Hamilton's reporting career becomes entangled with political unrest, personal loyalties, and consequential ethical decisions.
Guy's affair with embassy staffer Jill Bryant develops alongside Indonesia's escalating political instability.
Linda Hunt plays the Chinese-Australian photographer Billy Kwan, a role central to the film's perspective on identity and perception.
Jakarta's embassies, streets, press circles, and political unrest shape the film's atmosphere and moral pressure.
Films like The Year of Living Dangerously, and why
The Quiet American
Shared political intrigue, foreign correspondent perspective, moral compromise, and tense historical drama.
Under Fire
Shared romantic drama, journalistic protagonists, political upheaval, and morally charged international settings.
Casablanca
Shared sweeping romance, wartime political tension, and a protagonist caught between personal loyalty and historical forces.
Salvador
Shared immersive cross-cultural setting, idealism under pressure, and suspenseful drama shaped by political instability.
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Weir
- Release Date
- 1982-12-17
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (377)
Cast
- Mel Gibson
- Sigourney Weaver
- Linda Hunt
- Michael Murphy
- Bill Kerr
- Noel Ferrier
- Bembol Roco
- Paul Sonkkila
- Domingo Landicho
- Kuh Ledesma
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Year of Living Dangerously about?
- An ambitious foreign correspondent’s romance and moral awakening unfold amid Jakarta’s explosive political unrest.
- What is The Year of Living Dangerously like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Year of Living Dangerously as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Year of Living Dangerously violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Year of Living Dangerously as mild.
- What did critics think of The Year of Living Dangerously?
- Critics broadly regard it as a smart, suspenseful political romance elevated by strong performances and atmospheric direction, despite some concerns that its imagery and information overwhelm the plot.
- Which films are like The Year of Living Dangerously?
- Films with a similar feel include The Quiet American, Under Fire, Casablanca, and Salvador.
- How long is The Year of Living Dangerously?
- The Year of Living Dangerously runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Year of Living Dangerously?
- In United States, The Year of Living Dangerously is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
