A Dry White Season (1989)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Euzhan Palcy

Writers (WGA):

Andre Brink (novel)
Colin Welland (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Thriller

Plot:

Ben du Toit is a schoolteacher who always has considered himself a man of caring and justice, at least on the individual level...

Plot Keywords:

Police | School | Demonstration | Rugby | Apartheid

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

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)

Runtime:

97 min | West Germany:107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Davros Films

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When the camera pulls away from the court house (Harare City Hall) a bus drives past displaying an advertisement for Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, which flew to Zimbabwe, but not to South Africa under apartheid during the 1970s.

Movie Connections:

Featured in In Darkest Hollywood: Cinema and Apartheid (1993)

Soundtrack:

UMUSA

a splendid period piece of a dark part of South Africa's history.

I believe this to be one of Marlon Brando's most underrated performances. The film itself is a splendid period piece of Apartheid South Africa. I rarely see this movie mentioned in biographical comment with regard to Brando's career, and yet, it is a stunning performance. I assume the lack of comment is the fact that he only played a supporting role, and that the subject of apartheid probably denied it a higher profile. As somebody who has lived in South Africa, both before and after apartheid, i cannot tell you how accurate the performance of Brando is in this role. There is no doubt in my mind that he must have studied meticulously before playing this part. I do not know why, but there are a large percentage of professional people in South Africa who have an almost perfect "Queen's English" accent...but it is tinged with a slight South African edge which only the most perceptive can detect. Not only does Marlon Brando capture this perception, but he somehow manages to replicate it, which i have always found truly incredible. You would have to live South Africa to know how fantastic his voicing is in this part, but believe me, apart from the power of his acting, this role is a truly stunning illustration of his amazing ability. I hope this movie will obtain the higher profile it deserves in the future.

Manny Wah Hong Kong