A Dry White Season (1989)
- Starring:
- Donald Sutherland, Winston Ntshona, (more)
- Director(s):
- Euzhan Palcy
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
View All Versions to rent and buy
Synopsis of A Dry White Season
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 benefitted 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. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 107 mins
Complete Cast of A Dry White Season
- Donald Sutherland - Ben du Toit
- Zakes Mokae - Stanley Makhaya
- Susan Sarandon - Melanie Bruwer
- Janet Suzman - Susan du Toit
- Rowen Elmes - Johan du Toit
- Stella Dickin - Susan's Mother
- Andrew Whaley - Chris
- Sophie Mgcina - Margaret
- Tinashe Makoni - Robert
- Richard Wilson - Cloete
- Michael Gambon - Magistrate
- Susannah Harker - Suzette du Toit
- Stephen Hanly - Sgt. Van Zyl
- Grant Davidson - Lieutenant Venter
- Charles Pillai - Dr. Hassiem
- Kevin Johnson - Gert
- Andre Proctor - Jaimie
- Ernest Ndlovu - Archibald Mabaso
- Sello Maake - Johnson Seroke
- Winston Ntshona - Gordon Ngubene
- Jürgen Prochnow - Capt. Stolz
- Marlon Brando - Ian McKenzie
- Leonard Maguire - Mr. Bruwer
- Gerard Thoolen - Colonel Viljoen
- David de Keyser - Susan's Father
- John Kani - Julius
- Bekhithemba Mpofu - Jonathan
- Precious Thiri - Wellington
- Derek Hanekom - Viviers
- Paul Brooke - Dr. Herzog
- Mercia Davids - Sadie
- Mannie de Villiers - Police Commandant
- Rosemary Martin - Mrs. Beachley
- Anna Manimanzi - Soweto Girl
- Thoko Ntshinga - Emily Ngubene
- Willie Zweni - Aubrey Kunene
- Ronald Pickup - Louw
- Ndu Gumede - Douma
- Director(s):
- Euzhan Palcy
- Writer(s):
- Colin Welland, Euzhan Palcy, Alison Cross
- Producer(s):
- Paula Weinstein, Mary Selway
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Language, Violence, Questionable for Children, Profanity)
- Looking for special editions of A Dry White Season?
- See All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
