A Good Man in Africa (1994)

Politics are already strained between English imperialists and the West African government of Kinjanja, when womanizing British diplomat Morgan Leafy (Colin Friels) is caught in bed with ... See full summary »

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers:

William Boyd (novel), William Boyd (screenplay)

Stars:

Colin Friels, Sean Connery, Joanne Whalley

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	...	Dickie 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 struck by lightning

Storyline

Politics are already strained between English imperialists and the West African government of Kinjanja, when womanizing British diplomat Morgan Leafy (Colin Friels) is caught in bed with Celia (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer), wife of corrupt Kinjanjan presidential candidate Sam Adekunle (Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr.). As punishment, Leafy is forced into bribing an official who has voted down a project that stands to make Adekunle very rich. Leafy thinks he's gotten off easy until he learns the lone holdout is none other than Kinjanja's own brick wall of integrity, Dr. Alex Murray (Connery). Meanwhile, Leafy must also contend with his absurdly stuffy boss Fanshawe (John Lithgow), Fanshawe's lusty wife (Diana Rigg) and their luscious, too friendly daughter!

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | independent film | british diplomat | female nudity | satire | 

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Taglines:

Deep in the heart of Africa the British practice bizarre rituals.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexuality

Details

Country:

South Africa USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Afrika koktél

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,308,390

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capitol Films,Polar Entertainment,South African Breweries

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Trilby Beresford was not the only Christmas Girl. Production Designer Herbert Pinter's daughter also played a Christmas Girl.

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Quotes

Kojo: You're a good man, Mr. Leafy.
Morgan Leafy: You think so? Well, better late than never.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Quiz Show/Milk Money/A Simple Twist of Fate/A Good Man in Africa/What Happened Was... (1994)

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Soundtracks

A Good Man In Africa
Composed by George Lee
Performed by The George Lee Band

User Reviews

light humour about incompetence and corruption in Africa

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.