A Dry White Season (1989)

Ben du Toit is a schoolteacher who always has considered himself a man of caring and justice, at least on the individual level. When his gardener's son is brutally beaten up by the police ... See full summary »

Director:

Euzhan Palcy

Writers:

André P. Brink (novel) (as André Brink), Colin Welland (screenplay)

Stars:

Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, Zakes Mokae

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donald Sutherland	...	Ben
Janet Suzman	...	Susan
Zakes Mokae	...	Stanley
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Captain Stolz (as Jurgen Prochnow)
Susan Sarandon	...	Melanie
Marlon Brando	...	McKenzie
Winston Ntshona	...	Gordon
Thoko Ntshinga	...	Emily
Leonard Maguire	...	Bruwer
Gerard Thoolen	...	Col. Viljoen
Susannah Harker	...	Suzette
Andrew Whaley	...	Chris
Rowen Elmes	...	Johan
Stella Dickin	...	Susan's Mother
David de Keyser	...	Susan's Father (as David De Keyser)

Storyline

Ben du Toit is a schoolteacher who always has considered himself a man of caring and justice, at least on the individual level. When his gardener's son is brutally beaten up by the police at a demonstration by black school children, he gradually begins to realize his own society is built on a pillar of injustice and exploitation.

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Plot Keywords:

anti apartheid activist | state violence | tortured prisoners | gardener | south africa | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

Afrikaans Zulu English

Release Date:

20 September 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Dry White Season

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,766,879

Company Credits

Production Co:

Davros Films, Star Partners II Ltd., Sundance Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Janet Suzman (Susan du Toit) is the niece of the South African politician Helen Suzman, a prominent anti-apartheid activist and the sole member of the South African Parliament to openly oppose apartheid from 1961 to 1974.

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Goofs

When Susan walks in on Ben and Stanley on Christmas day, she is carrying 2 suitcases and does not have her jacket draped on her shoulders. In the next scene, she is leaving the room with the jacket around her shoulders, is carrying only 1 suitcase and it is different than either of the ones she was carrying initially.

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Quotes

Ian McKenzie: Justice and law, Mr. Du Toit, are often just... well they're, I suppose they can be described as distant cousins. And here in South Africa, well, they're simply not on speaking terms at all.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

YINI KODWA YINI
Written by Joseph Shabalala
Performed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo,
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
Produced by Danny Lawson for Night After Night Ltd.
Additional vocal performances by the cast of Sarafina

User Reviews

Very interesting

I found the story very interesting because it's a real story about the South Africa.The film opens on the demonstrations and riots in Soweto,I like this extract even if it was violent.The main character of Benjamin Dutoit is interesting because he is the hand of the Black.He is brave.