Red Dust (2004)

Police officer Dirk Hendricks (Bartlett) files an amnesty application for Alex Mpondo (Ejiofor), a member of the South African Parliament who can't remember the torture he once endured as a captive political activist. South African-born attorney Sarah Barcant (Swank), meanwhile, returns to her homeland to represent Mpondo, as well as Steve Sizela, Mpondo's friend who arrested along with him and ... See full summary »

Director:

Tom Hooper

Writers:

Troy Kennedy-Martin (screenplay), Gillian Slovo (novel)

Stars:

Jamie Bartlett, Hilary Swank, Ian Roberts

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jamie Bartlett	...	Dirk Hendricks
Hilary Swank	...	Sarah Barcant
Ian Roberts	...	Piet Müller
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Alex Mpondo
Hlomla Dandala	...	Oscar Dumasi
James Ngcobo	...	Ezekiel
Glen Gabela	...	Themba
Connie Mfuku	...	Alex's Aunt
Sylvaine Strike	...	Woman at House
Greg Latter	...	Mannie Bester
Zaa Nkweta	...	Reporter
Marius Weyers	...	Ben Hoffman
Sam Phillips	...	Elder (as Sam Philllips)
Elize Cawood	...	Anna Hoffman
Mawongo Tyawa	...	James Sizela (as Mawonga Dominic Tyawa)

Storyline

Police officer Dirk Hendricks (Bartlett) files an amnesty application for Alex Mpondo (Ejiofor), a member of the South African Parliament who can't remember the torture he once endured as a captive political activist. South African-born attorney Sarah Barcant (Swank), meanwhile, returns to her homeland to represent Mpondo, as well as Steve Sizela, Mpondo's friend who arrested along with him and never heard from again.

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Plot Keywords:

south africa | man on the verge of tears | apartheid | courtroom | truth commission | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent images and language

Details

Country:

UK South Africa

Language:

English Xhosa Afrikaans

Release Date:

14 April 2005 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Red Dust - Die Wahrheit führt in die Freiheit

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Distant Horizon, Videovision Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[last lines]
Alex Mpondo: We have the right to say that it hurt.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Episode #2.41 (2005)

User Reviews

A great shame

As a South African, living in South Africa again after a 32 year stay in the UK, I am sorry to say that this movie is a huge disappointment. The three main problems I had with the movie was a) why Swank and Ejiofor - an American and a Nigerian - to play the leads. This country is bursting with talent and has no need of imports... b) Gillian Slovo has been trading off her Struggle credentials for years now. She's a very mediocre writer and even her novel doesn't stand up the flaccid direction of Mr Hooper... and c) Hilary Swank again, such a great actor, as proved in Million Dollar Baby (but that's Eastwood too), here dressed in the contemporary New York style whilst roaming freely around the poverty of the Karoo. Where was the consideration and sensitivity needed by the costumer and director? Yes, the film is ultimately moving

• how could it not be? - but the overall mood at the conclusion is one

of tremendous letdown. Heart's in the right place but needs a pace maker.