IMDb >
Proteus (2003)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsProteus (2003) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 1 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Plot:
An interracial gay love story set in early 18th century South Africa about two men -- a black prisoner living in a Cape Town penal colony and a Dutch sailor -- who weather injustices as a result of their affair. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
1 nomination moreUser Comments:
Introducing the "new" Sam Elliott moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Rouxnet Brown | ... | Claas Blank | |
| Shaun Smyth | ... | Virgil Niven | |
| Neil Sandilands | ... | Rijkhaart Jacobz | |
| Kristen Thomson | ... | Kate | |
| Tessa Jubber | ... | Elize | |
| Terry Norton | ... | Betsy | |
| Adrienne Pierce | ... | Tinnie (as Adrienne Pearce) | |
| Grant Swanby | ... | Willer | |
| Brett Goldin | ... | Lourens | |
| A.J. van der Merwe | ... | Settler | |
| Dean Lotz | ... | Governor | |
| Jeroen Kranenburg | ... | Scholz | |
| Johan Jacobs | ... | Nama Prisoner | |
| Katrina Kaffer | ... | Kaness | |
| Kwanda Malunga | ... | Claas (age 10) |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
Canada:100 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:97 minColor:
ColorSound Mix:
Dolby SRCertification:
UK:15FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Proteus (2003)Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Brokeback Mountain | Monster's Ball | Prick Up Your Ears | Coming Out | Borstal Boy |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Drama section | IMDb Canada section | Add this title to MyMovies |



While a brief description of "Proteus" may not make it sound particularly appealing, it's a surprisingly good work dealing with a time, place, and situation rarely covered in the movies. The anachronistic appearance of modern clothes and devices is only occasional and is probably meant to emphasize that the problems dealt with in "Proteus" are still with us today, in various forms. This insight, however, probably isn't worth the breaks in the movie's fabric these appearances cause. Also, the subplot involving a Dutch botanist, though given a lot of footage, never quite gels into a satisfying story.
Acting honors belong to Rouxnet Brown as the imprisoned "Hottentot" but viewers may be equally impressed by Neil Sandilands as the Dutch sailor-turned-inmate who becomes his lover. Sandilands may be half-a-notch below handsome but he has a good face and a good body and one can well imagine prison guards staring at him whenever he takes a shower. Unfortunately, his flogging scene is joined only after the final lash has been struck.
Neil Sandilands is a virtual newcomer at this point but he has about him the look and manner of a young Sam Elliott and could, with the right exposure, go places.
Those who go to this movie expecting lots of nudity and graphic sex will be disappointed. The sex scenes are frank but non-exploitive and, by current standards, almost modest.