“A Dry White Season” is a drama film which takes place in 1976 in South Africa during the apartheid era. It tells the story of a school teacher who discovers that the young son of a black gardener has been killed by a corrupt policeman. He persuades a prominent human rights attorney to file a long-shot case against the policeman; the high drama proceeds from there. French director Euzhan Palcy put together a movie which is excellent story telling, with good production values and strong performances. She co-wrote the screenplay with Collin Welland, adapted from a 1979 novel by Afrikaner (South Africans of Dutch descent) writer Andre Brink.
The cast includes marvelous performances by Donald Sutherland as the teacher, Winston Ntshona as the gardener, Marlon Brando as the lawyer, Susan Sarandon as a reporter, Jurgen Prochnow as the policeman, as well as Janet Suzman, Suzannah Harker, Rowan Elmes, Leonard Maguire, Zakes Mokae, Thoko Ntshinga, John Kani, Gerald Thoolen, David de Keyser, and Michael Gambon as The Magistrate.
The watchable film was not a success at the box office for Davros Films, Sundance Productions, and MGM/UA. Brando was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
A Dry White Season (1989)
cinema
My Review
“A Dry White Season” is a drama film which takes place in 1976 in South Africa during the apartheid era. It tells the story of a school teacher who discovers that the young son of a black gardener has been killed by a corrupt policeman. He persuades a prominent human rights attorney to file a long-shot case against the policeman; the high drama proceeds from there. French director Euzhan Palcy put together a movie which is excellent story telling, with good production values and strong performances. She co-wrote the screenplay with Collin Welland, adapted from a 1979 novel by Afrikaner (South Africans of Dutch descent) writer Andre Brink.
The cast includes marvelous performances by Donald Sutherland as the teacher, Winston Ntshona as the gardener, Marlon Brando as the lawyer, Susan Sarandon as a reporter, Jurgen Prochnow as the policeman, as well as Janet Suzman, Suzannah Harker, Rowan Elmes, Leonard Maguire, Zakes Mokae, Thoko Ntshinga, John Kani, Gerald Thoolen, David de Keyser, and Michael Gambon as The Magistrate.
The watchable film was not a success at the box office for Davros Films, Sundance Productions, and MGM/UA. Brando was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.