Stander (2003)

Director:

Bronwen Hughes

Writer (WGA):

Bima Stagg (written by)

Release Date:

10 October 2003 (South Africa)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Good cop. Great criminal.

Plot:

The life and career of Andre Stander, a South African police officer turned bank robber.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Bank Robber | Apartheid | 1980s | Jailbreak

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Thomas Jane	...	Andre Stander
Dexter Fletcher	...	Lee McCall
David O'Hara	...	Allan Heyl (as David Patrick O'Hara)
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Bekkie Stander
Ashley Taylor	...	Cor van Deventer
Marius Weyers	...	General Stander
At Botha	...	General Viljoen
Lionel Newton	...	Sergeant Smit
Melanie Merle	...	Sharmiane
Sean Else	...	Ed Janis
Peter Gardner	...	Allums
Patrick Mynhardt	...	Judge
Wikus du Toit	...	Lawyer
Drummond Marais	...	Prosecutor
Nicole Abel	...	Young Lady

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language, some sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

116 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:111 min

Country:

Canada | Germany | South Africa | UK

Language:

English | Afrikaans | Zulu

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company:

ApolloProMedia GmbH & Co. 1. Filmproduktion KG (I)

Trivia:

The filmmakers got to talk to Allan Heyl, one of Andre Stander's accomplices who was paroled on May 18, 2005; Cor van Deventer, his police partner; and the warden of the prison where Andre was incarcerated.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: On the DVD commentary, director Bronwen Hughes points out that although the Toyi-Toyi's presented in the film are authentic, the AK47 Toyi-Toyi is a later incarnation of the chant, much more aggressive than the one that would have been used in the mid-1970's when the riot scenes take place.

Quotes:

Andre Stander: I'm tried for robbing banks. But, I have killed unarmed people.
Judge: That is not the business of the court.

Movie Connections:

References Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Soundtrack:

Izulu Li Ya Duma

Like a Great, Forgotten Movie From the 70s

_Stander_ was completely fascinating, from start to finish. I don't know when the last time was I saw a movie that I enjoyed so completely. It really was like some overlooked classic from the early 70s, in the styles and the composition. The colors have just the right washed-out look to make you think this film might be a contemporary of films like _Dog Day Afternoon_ or _Network_. And the settings, the costumes, the cars--all the period details bring us right back to the mid-70s. Never having visited South Africa and not really knowing that much about it, I almost feel like I've had a bit of a crash course in South African history and culture after watching the film. It's amazing that Thomas Jane, who hasn't exactly had the most memorable career to date, could so completely inhabit this character and bring him to life. This is the same guy who was the romantic lead in the insipid _The Sweetest Thing_! And the morose protagonist of _The Punisher_. He needs to keep stretching and looking for these more offbeat roles. And it's always a pleasure to see the beautiful Deborah Kara Unger in a film--here she plays Stander's wife. I won't recount the plot--plenty of other posters have already--but just urge you to rent this movie if you get the chance. It was immensely entertaining.