A Dry White Season (1989)

Ben du Toit is a schoolteacher who always has considered himself a man of caring and justice, at least on the individual level. When his gardener's son is brutally beaten up by the police ... See full summary »

Director:

Euzhan Palcy

Writers:

André P. Brink (novel), Colin Welland (screenplay),

Stars:

Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, Zakes Mokae

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donald Sutherland	...	Ben du Toit
Janet Suzman	...	Susan du Toit
Zakes Mokae	...	Stanley Makhaya
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Captain Stolz (as Jurgen Prochnow)
Susan Sarandon	...	Melanie Bruwer
Marlon Brando	...	Ian McKenzie
Winston Ntshona	...	Gordon Ngubene
Thoko Ntshinga	...	Emily Ngubene
Leonard Maguire	...	Bruwer
Gerard Thoolen	...	Colonel Viljoen
Susannah Harker	...	Suzette du Toit
Andrew Whaley	...	Chris
Rowen Elmes	...	Johan du Toit
Stella Dickin	...	Susan's Mother
David de Keyser	...	Susan's Father (as David De Keyser)

Storyline

Ben du Toit is a schoolteacher who always has considered himself a man of caring and justice, at least on the individual level. When his gardener's son is brutally beaten up by the police at a demonstration by black school children, he gradually begins to realize his own society is built on a pillar of injustice and exploitation.

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Plot Keywords:

gardener | police | arrest | murder | death | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 September 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Assassinato Sob Custódia

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$3,766,879 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Davros Films, Star Partners II Ltd., Sundance Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only film that Marlon Brando appeared in where he was directed by a female director.

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Goofs

When Susan walks in on Ben and Stanley on Christmas day, she is carrying 2 suitcases and does not have her jacket draped on her shoulders. In the next scene, she is leaving the room with the jacket around her shoulders, is carrying only 1 suitcase and it is different than either of the ones she was carrying initially.

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Connections

Featured in The 62nd Annual Academy Awards (1990)

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Soundtracks

"UNOMATHEMBA"
Written by Joseph Shabalala
Performed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
Produced by Danny Lawson for Night After Night Ltd.

User Reviews

Accurate but incomplete portrayal of the old South Africa

If you want to understand what the old South Africa could be like at its worst, this movie accurately portrays it. Well acted and only slightly over-dramatized, it gives you the sense of how the ruling culture was blind to its own injustices. Those who oppose the main character from within his own family make some valid points, and that makes it all the more chilling.

As someone who lived in South Africa until shortly before the year this movie is set in (and was forced to leave because I opposed apartheid), I can't fault the authenticity of this movie but I want to caution viewers not to form all your opinions of white South Africans from this type of film. There is a good side to every culture, but it is harder to portray and doesn't always make great box office.

If this movie leaves you hating anyone, you are taking away the wrong message. If it leaves you realizing this could happen anywhere, and ordinary good people can easily find themselves on the wrong side in situations like this, that is the right message to take away.