Rent A Dry White Season (1989)
3.6 of 5 from 78 ratings
1h 42min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- South Africa, 1976. The police ruled Gordan Ngubene's death a suicide. But when Afrikaans schoolteacher Ben du Toit (Donald Sutherland) saw the body he knew his friend of 15 years was the victim of police torture. Seeking justice, Ben hires barrister Ian McKenzie (Marlon Brando) to represent the Ngubene family at the inquest, but the judge ignores the evidence and exonerates the police. Refusing to "give it up", Ben risks his family and career as he takes on a system run by racists, thugs and murderers. For if you're not with the Afrikaners, you're against them. And choosing the wrong side could get you killed.
- Actors:
- Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, Zakes Mokae, Jürgen Prochnow, Susan Sarandon, Marlon Brando, Winston Ntshona, Thoko Ntshinga, Leonard Maguire, Gerard Thoolen, Susannah Harker, Andrew Whaley, Rowen Elmes, Stella Dickin, David De Keyser
- Directors:
- Euzhan Palcy
- Producers:
- Paula Weinstein
- Writers:
- Andre Brink, Colin Welland, Euzhan Palcy
- Studio:
- MGM
- Genres:
- Drama, Thrillers
- Collections:
- Award Winners, Brando: A Centenary Celebration, Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Susan Sarandon, Oscar's Two-Time Club, People of the Pictures, Remembering Donald Sutherland, Remembering Michael Gambon
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 17/06/2024
- Run Time:
- 107 minutes
- Languages:
- Afrikaans LPCM Stereo, English LPCM Stereo, Zulu LPCM Stereo
- Subtitles:
- English Audio Description
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- 'A Dry White Season' intro and Q&A (2019, 36 mins): director Euzhan Paley talks to Lydia Ogwang following a 30th anniversary screening at TIFF
- Andre Brink (1990, 19 mins): the author discusses his novel, the film adaptation and his own political awakening
- Jemima + Johnny (1966, 30 mins): a short film by South African activist and filmmaker Lionel Ngakane, featuring a cameo by Zakes Mokae
- The Burning (1968, 32 mins): Stephen Frears' debut film depicts apartheid-era South Africa through the eyes of a young boy
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Reviews (4) of A Dry White Season
A Decent Amount of Rain - A Dry White Season review by griggs
It's the Soweto material where the film comes alive. Palcy shoots the 1976 march and the crackdown that follows with real anger, and for a stretch, I actually forgot I was watching a message movie rather than just feeling one. She was the first Black woman to direct a Hollywood studio picture, and it shows in how little patience she has for the white-guilt version of this story. Brando, back after nine years away, turns up for two scenes and steals both — he plays the lawyer like a man who's seen this trial before and already knows the verdict. Mokae gets sidelined though, which is a shame, since he's doing more with less than most of the cast.
The trouble is Sutherland's schoolteacher, whose slow awakening to apartheid is meant to carry the film and mostly just holds it back. Shot and scored like Sunday-night television — competent, a bit flat, in no hurry to surprise you.
Ends well, mind. Season's dry, but it's not exactly barren.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
An Excellent Film on the Awful Subject of Apartheid - A Dry White Season review by Cato
This film is about South Africa at the awful time when the Afrikaners ran their repulsive system of punishing, and indeed killing black people because of the colour of their skin. At times the violence is awful, and I wouldn't recommend the film to anyone who is at all squeamish at the sight of blood. The acting is first rate, particularly from Marlon Brando, who plays a lawyer who defends the victims of the awful punishment. It is not a long part, perhaps only fifteen minutes,, but in that time his genius shines out. Brilliant. Donald Sutherland gives a sensitive performance as the teacher who stands up for the poor people being besieged, and pays an awful price for his struggles. Well worth watching, if only for Brando's performance.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Brilliant, Terrible, and True - A Dry White Season review by CH
I am not sure how widely this well-made film is known. It has excellent pacing, characterisation, all of it unflinching - with a cameo by Marlon Brando, who brings something of Rumpole to the part. Also the child actors are excellent.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.