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Schoolteacher Ben du Toit (Donald Sutherland) has been insulated all his life from the horrors of apartheid in his native South Africa. Perhaps he really didn't want to know. When the son of his black gardener is arrested and beaten as a result of a schoolboy protest in Soweto, at first he imagines the police must have had their reasons. However, the boy is picked up again, and this time he doesn't come back. Ben promises his servant that he will look into the incident, and discovers that the boy was killed simply to gratify the violent urges of Captain Stolz (Jurgen Prochnow), a "special branch" policeman. At long last he has gotten a glimpse into the truly arbitrary and violent nature of the system he has so long benefited from, and he hires Ian Mackenzie (Marlon Brando) to prosecute the killer. It is a foregone conclusion that Stolz will not be punished, but Mackenzie rises to new heights of withering sarcasm and irony in the courtroom. This situation turns Ben into a radical firebrand, which alienates him from his white friends and neighbors, as well as members of his family.
Original Release
09/20/1989
US Release
09/20/1989
Links
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Donald Sutherland | Ben / Ben du Toit |
Janet Suzman | Susan / Susan du Toit |
Zakes Mokae | Stanley / Stanley Makhaya |
Jurgen Prochnow | Captain Stolz |
Susan Sarandon | Melanie / Melanie Bruwer |
Marlon Brando | McKenzie / Ian McKenzie |
Winston Ntshona | Gordon / Gordon Ngubene |
Thoko Ntshinga | Emily / Emily Ngubene |
Leonard Maguire | Bruwer |
Gerard Thoolen | Col. Viljoen / Colonel Viljoen |
Directors
Writers
André P. Brink, Colin Welland, Euzhan Palcy
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Donald Sutherland | Ben / Ben du Toit |
Janet Suzman | Susan / Susan du Toit |
Zakes Mokae | Stanley / Stanley Makhaya |
Jurgen Prochnow | Captain Stolz |
Susan Sarandon | Melanie / Melanie Bruwer |
Marlon Brando | McKenzie / Ian McKenzie |
Winston Ntshona | Gordon / Gordon Ngubene |
Thoko Ntshinga | Emily / Emily Ngubene |
Leonard Maguire | Bruwer |
Gerard Thoolen | Col. Viljoen / Colonel Viljoen |
Susannah Harker | Suzette / Suzette du Toit |
Andrew Whaley | Chris |
Rowen Elmes | Johan / Johan du Toit |
Stella Dickin | Susan's Mother |
David de Keyser | Susan's Father |
John Kani | Julius |
Sophie Mgcina | Margaret |
Bekhithemba Mpofu | Jonathan |
Tinashe Makoni | Robert |
Precious Phiri | Wellington |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Tim Hampton | Executive Producer |
Mary Selway | Producer |
Paula Weinstein | Producer |
Editors
Year | Type | Category | Won |
---|
1990 | Oscar | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated |
1990 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture | Nominated |