Shepherds and Butchers (2016)

A lawyer takes on a case of a prison guard in South Africa who is traumatized by the executions he's witnessed.

Director:

Oliver Schmitz

Writers:

Chris Marnewick (novel), Brian Cox (adaptation)

Stars:

Andrea Riseborough, Steve Coogan, Robert Hobbs

4 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Andrea Riseborough	...	Kathleen Marais
Steve Coogan	...	Johan Webber
Robert Hobbs	...	Pierre De Villiers
Carel Nel	...	Karel Niemand
Deon Lotz	...	Warrant Officer Rautenbach
Garion Dowds	...	Leon Labuschagne
Inge Beckmann	...	John's Sister
Brett Williams	...	Tennis partner
Siya Mayola	...	Condemned Man
Mbulelo Grootboom	...	Condemned Man
De Klerk Oelofse	...	Eben Christiaan Coetzee
Rob van Vuuren	...	Prison Medical Officer
Kabelo Bouga Chalatsane	...	Condemned Man (as Kabelo Chaletsane)
Jacques Theron	...	Court Usher
Marcel van Heerden	...	Justice J.P. van Zyl

Storyline

SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS follows a jaded lawyer, John Weber (Steve Coogan), who takes on a seemingly hopeless multiple murder case and uncovers scandalous shortcomings in South Africa's capital punishment system as he mounts a defense for a prison guard traumatized by the executions he took part in.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | hanging | execution | grave | corpse | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing and violent content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Garion Dowds attended Reddam House school in Bedfordview, South Africa, where his mother teaches Drama.

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Goofs

During the shooting scene, 13 shots are fired. At the reenactment, in flashback, Leon fires 10 rounds.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Pierre De Villiers: [coming to see the crime scene] "Magazine hill", they call this place. Dead end.
Johan Webber: Mmm. Why would Labuschagne and the other men in the minibus have come up here?
Pierre De Villiers: He claims he can't remember any of it. So, Leon's bakkie was parked here. He left the keys in the ignition, then he ran that way. The minibus taxi belonging to the football team was... Came to rest here. Point-blank range. The gun they found was registered in Leon's name. He dragged the bodies over there, then he lined them up.

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Soundtracks

Angels
Written by Barry Gibb, Steve Gibb and Ashley Gibb
Performed by Vusi Mahlasela and Barry Gibb

User Reviews

One of the better courtroom drama's.

Courtroom drama's, to be honest not really my cup of tea, as most of the time there is a lot of talking and not a lot of action, but in this case the story is so appealing and captivating I really enjoyed this movie. Based on true events this story is even more interesting as we try to understand why a vicious crime has been committed, why some moral dilemmas have not been studied before. How can a caregiver also be an executioner at the same time? It's a really good story to follow, never boring and the cast is also quality. A great Garion Dowds, very promising, and a good Steve Coogan as the attorney defending the murderer. Shepherds And Butchers, not a very inviting title, but to me one of the better courtroom drama's I've seen in a while.

Details

Country:

South Africa USA Germany

Language:

English Afrikaans

Release Date:

23 March 2017 (United Arab Emirates)

Also Known As:

The Hangman: Shepherds and Butchers

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$79,711

Company Credits

Production Co:

Videovision Entertainment, Distant Horizon, Times Media Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min (edited VOD)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1