IMDb > A Good Man in Africa (1994)
A Good Man in Africa
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A Good Man in Africa (1994) More at IMDbPro »

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A Good Man in Africa (1994) -- Open-ended Trailer from Universal Studios
A Good Man in Africa (1994) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
4.8/10   1,187 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Bruce Beresford
Writers:
William Boyd (novel)
William Boyd (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for A Good Man in Africa on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 September 1994 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy more
Tagline:
Deep in the heart of Africa the British practice bizarre rituals. more
NewsDesk:
Thompson Buys A Thunderstorm
 (From EmpireOnline. 1 July 2009, 10:45 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
light humour about incompetence and corruption in Africa more (13 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Colin Friels ... Morgan Leafy, 1st Secretary of the High Commissioner

Sean Connery ... Dr. Alex Murray

John Lithgow ... Arthur Fanshawe, British High Commissioner
Diana Rigg ... Chloe Fanshawe

Louis Gossett Jr. ... Prof. Sam Adekunle

Joanne Whalley ... Celia Adekunle (as Joanne Whalley-Kilmer)
Sarah-Jane Fenton ... Priscilla Fanshawe
Maynard Eziashi ... Friday, Leafy's Houseman

Jeremy Crutchley ... Dalmire
Jackie Mofokeng ... Hazel, Leafy's Mistress
Daphne Greenwood ... Duchess
Themba Ndaba ... Kojo
David Phetoe ... Isaiah
Dambuza Mdledle ... Sonny, Hazel's Brother
Lillian Dube ... Innocence, Maid who was struck by lightning
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Additional Details

Runtime:
94 min
Country:
South Africa | USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Filming Locations:
South Africa
Company:
Capitol Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Visa d'exploitation en France : # 86827. more
Quotes:
Dr. Alex Murray: Show me the man who is completely content, and I'll show you the lobotomy scar. more
Soundtrack:
I Need You more

FAQ

Where can I buy a VCD of this movie?
more
6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful.
light humour about incompetence and corruption in Africa, 4 August 2001
Author: rugbysharks from Ireland

This film was on late night, mid week BBC television ,last week and I found it fairly easy going in general. It wasn't complicated at all although in some ways it attempted to be so due to the sex subplots involving British diplomat Colin Friels (who also bears a passing resemblance to Ewan MacGregor strangely enough). Those subplots of course came second to the themes of corruption, incompetence and confusion which I have to say reign supreme in Africa. The seemingly intelligent, progressive leader is actually corrupt to the core and is well played by Louis Gossett I thought.

The film also took a somewhat farcical view of African culture and politics which is completely over exagerrated but funny nonetheless. For example, the names and words of certain things amused me, like 'newly independent' Kinjanja for example. The local currency was the 'jan-jan' (?), the capital city was unpronouncable, and the locals believe in a god of thunder called 'Shango' which in a way becomes the driving force of the plot and causes our hero Friels all sorts of amusing moments. If struck by lightning, the victim also had to be 'cleansed' by a 'ju-ju' man??!!! True, the locals are portrayed as simple, god fearing, useless idiots which is something of a Euro-stereotype of Africans in general it has to be said. But the British diplomats, played by Friels and Lithgow, are also given rough treatment......they bend over backwards for a corrupt leader, can't deal with local politics, are xenophobic and bumblingly incompetent. But from these situations I did draw a certain degree of amusement, if only due to the fact that I lived in southern africa for over ten years and some of the stereotypes and mishaps were classic Africa.

Some good looking female actors also help the film along although the likes of Diana Rigg are under-used. Connery puts in a forgetful performance but both Friels and Lithgow are entertaining. The sticky atmosphere also comes through as does the general hurly burly life of a foreign diplomat in Africa..........I'll give it 6.5/10, easy going and good for a few laughs.

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