Waiting for the Barbarians (2019)

A Magistrate working in a distant outpost begins to question his loyalty to the empire.

Director:

Ciro Guerra

Writers:

J.M. Coetzee (screenplay by), J.M. Coetzee (novel)

Stars:

Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Mark Rylance	...	The Magistrate
Johnny Depp	...	Colonel Joll
Robert Pattinson	...	Officer Mandel
Gana Bayarsaikhan	...	The Girl
Greta Scacchi	...	Mai
David Dencik	...	The Clerk
Sam Reid	...	The Lieutenant
Harry Melling	...	Garrison Soldier 4
Bill Milner	...	Garrison Soldier 5
Gursed Dalkhsuren	...	Old Prisoner
Tserendagva Purevdorj	...	Old Barbarian
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Haqi Ali	...	Farmer 2
Paul Bazely	...	The Herbalist
Hami Belal	...	Joll's Man #1
Adam Bensallah	...	Mai's Grandson

Storyline

A Magistrate working in a distant outpost begins to question his loyalty to the empire.

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Plot Keywords:

loyalty | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The adaptation of the novel was written by author J.M. Coetzee himself. It's his first produced script. He also wrote an adaptation of his novel 'In the Heart of the Country' which he published in 2014 and remains unproduced.

User Reviews

Colonialism then and now

Set in the 19th century in an unnamed Asian frontier post, this story describes how imperialism and colonialism disrupts the lives of ordinary people. Mark Rylance is the magistrate of a peaceful settlement where the biggest crime is a pig invading a neighbour's garden brilliantly acting an excellent script based in a prize winning novel,. Johnny Depp is the sinister policeman from the capital who suspects a rebellion and uses torture to get "confessions" A young nomadic girl who is a victim is befriended by the magistrate. The story is well told and the scenery spectacular- deserts and mountains. What is very well done by this film set in the past is that the methods of the policeman, the attitude of the empire , and the whole issue or race and occupation are as relevant today , and this is an allegory of what is happening in the Middle East, the Congo and elsewhere at this very moment.

Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 2020 (USA)

Also Known As:

Waiting for the Barbarians

Filming Locations:

Marrakech, Morocco

Company Credits

Production Co:

Iervolino Entertainment, Ithaca Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Color:

Color