In "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", James Stewart fought for a lost cause, the only cause he believed was worth fighting for. Fifty years after that iconic film moment, Donald Sutherland fought for another lost cause, risking everything he held dear in the process. This time, that cause is the eradication of injustice in South Africa after dozens of black children are murdered and their loved ones face annihilation for their grief-stricken protests.
Sutherland plays the employer of one of the fathers of one of the victims, and when more murders occur (disguised as suicide), he finds himself involved in bringing the leaders of this outrage to justice. This causes friction between him and his scared wife (the lovely Janet Suzman, Academy Award Nominee for "Nicholas and Alexandra") who fears for the destruction of their safe family structure, safe mainly because they are white. A court trial (with Marlon Brando in an Oscar Nominated role as the attorney fighting this lost cause) results in more government corruption and Sutherland turns towards a sympathetic reporter (Susan Sarandon) to help him expose the cruelty of apartheid and bring the culprits (who are more like a government supported mafia) to justice.
This is a disturbing topic, and moments of this film will bring on anger towards the hideous cruelties of the perpetrators. But it shows that even with the most corrupt government, there will always be people who will fight against it regardless of the dangers towards themselves. Sutherland is outstanding, and it is really nice to see Brando in a role bigger than a cameo. He may only be on for 20 minutes, but he is worthy of the acclaim he received. Susan Sarandon provides a nice cameo, probably because as a fighter of lost causes herself, she believed in the film's message. While I know little about the actual details of this corruption, I feel others like me may benefit by seeing the film to expose them to what is going on outside of their own back yard.
Sutherland plays the employer of one of the fathers of one of the victims, and when more murders occur (disguised as suicide), he finds himself involved in bringing the leaders of this outrage to justice. This causes friction between him and his scared wife (the lovely Janet Suzman, Academy Award Nominee for "Nicholas and Alexandra") who fears for the destruction of their safe family structure, safe mainly because they are white. A court trial (with Marlon Brando in an Oscar Nominated role as the attorney fighting this lost cause) results in more government corruption and Sutherland turns towards a sympathetic reporter (Susan Sarandon) to help him expose the cruelty of apartheid and bring the culprits (who are more like a government supported mafia) to justice.
This is a disturbing topic, and moments of this film will bring on anger towards the hideous cruelties of the perpetrators. But it shows that even with the most corrupt government, there will always be people who will fight against it regardless of the dangers towards themselves. Sutherland is outstanding, and it is really nice to see Brando in a role bigger than a cameo. He may only be on for 20 minutes, but he is worthy of the acclaim he received. Susan Sarandon provides a nice cameo, probably because as a fighter of lost causes herself, she believed in the film's message. While I know little about the actual details of this corruption, I feel others like me may benefit by seeing the film to expose them to what is going on outside of their own back yard.