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A Dry White Season

  • 19891989
  • RR
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
A Dry White Season (1989)
  • Drama
  • Thriller
A white middle class South African suburbanite with no interest in politics agrees to help his black gardener find his jailed son. His investigation opens his eyes to the horrors committed b... Read allA white middle class South African suburbanite with no interest in politics agrees to help his black gardener find his jailed son. His investigation opens his eyes to the horrors committed by the secret police and turns him into a target.A white middle class South African suburbanite with no interest in politics agrees to help his black gardener find his jailed son. His investigation opens his eyes to the horrors committed by the secret police and turns him into a target.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Euzhan Palcy
  • Writers
    • André P. Brink(novel)
    • Colin Welland(screenplay)
    • Euzhan Palcy(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Donald Sutherland
    • Janet Suzman
    • Zakes Mokae
Top credits
  • Director
    • Euzhan Palcy
  • Writers
    • André P. Brink(novel)
    • Colin Welland(screenplay)
    • Euzhan Palcy(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Donald Sutherland
    • Janet Suzman
    • Zakes Mokae
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 43User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 9 nominations total

    Photos51

    "Dry White Season, A" Marlon Brando
    A Dry White Season (1989)
    A Dry White Season (1989)
    A Dry White Season (1989)
    Marlon Brando and Michael Gambon in A Dry White Season (1989)
    Marlon Brando and Michael Gambon in A Dry White Season (1989)
    Marlon Brando in A Dry White Season (1989)
    Marlon Brando in A Dry White Season (1989)
    Michael Gambon in A Dry White Season (1989)
    Marlon Brando in A Dry White Season (1989)
    Marlon Brando in A Dry White Season (1989)
    Marlon Brando in A Dry White Season (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Benas Ben
    Janet Suzman
    Janet Suzman
    • Susanas Susan
    Zakes Mokae
    Zakes Mokae
    • Stanleyas Stanley
    Jürgen Prochnow
    Jürgen Prochnow
    • Captain Stolzas Captain Stolz
    Susan Sarandon
    Susan Sarandon
    • Melanieas Melanie
    Marlon Brando
    Marlon Brando
    • McKenzieas McKenzie
    Winston Ntshona
    Winston Ntshona
    • Gordonas Gordon
    Thoko Ntshinga
    • Emilyas Emily
    Leonard Maguire
    • Bruweras Bruwer
    Gerard Thoolen
    Gerard Thoolen
    • Col. Viljoenas Col. Viljoen
    Susannah Harker
    Susannah Harker
    • Suzetteas Suzette
    Andrew Whaley
    • Chrisas Chris
    Rowen Elmes
    • Johanas Johan
    Stella Dickin
    • Susan's Motheras Susan's Mother
    David de Keyser
    David de Keyser
    • Susan's Fatheras Susan's Father
    • (as David De Keyser)
    John Kani
    John Kani
    • Juliusas Julius
    Sophie Mgcina
    • Margaretas Margaret
    Bekhithemba Mpofu
    • Jonathanas Jonathan
    • Director
      • Euzhan Palcy
    • Writers
      • André P. Brink(novel)
      • Colin Welland(screenplay)
      • Euzhan Palcy(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      With this movie, Writer and Director Euzhan Palcy became the first black female to direct a major Hollywood movie.
    • Goofs
      When Marlon Brando is in court grilling the Doctor. His glasses are on, then they pan away from him for a moment then back to him and his glasses are up on his head. Then they pan away for just a second, and when they go back to him, they are down again. Very subtle but easy to notice.
    • Quotes

      Ian McKenzie: Justice and law, Mr. Du Toit, are often just... well they're, I suppose they can be described as distant cousins. And here in South Africa, well, they're simply not on speaking terms at all.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Black Rain/Heavy Petting/In Country/A Dry White Season/Heart of Dixie (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      UNOMATHEMBA
      Written by Joseph Shabalala

      Performed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

      Produced by Danny Lawson for Night After Night Ltd.

    User reviews43

    Review
    Top review
    a beautiful movie
    We are Mrs Cisar's pupils in Dumont d'Urville high school in Caen, France. We are sixteen and we study in the 11th grade. We have been learning English for six years. We watched the film A Dry White Season in the English class and we had to sum up and give our opinion on this film.

    The film takes place in South Africa, during Apartheid in 1976. A white man (Ben), who is a teacher in a white school decided to defend his gardener who was beaten to death by the police. It's the story of a white person who wants to help the blacks in their fight against segregation.

    We liked this film because it made us understand the horrible situation in South Africa during Apartheid. We could never have imagined that this kind of things could have happened there, so it taught us what life during Apartheid was like. That makes the film very educational for everybody and makes our mentalities evolve. The film is very interesting because there is suspense and we didn't know if justice would be done. It also showed us that people should not be judged on the colour of their skins, but on their characters.

    Even if this film is very shocking sometimes and violent, we recommended it to our friends in order to make them understand what Apartheid was and what segregation is. This is still a burning issue in our society.

    Watch this film and you will know what Apartheid was really about;

    Thomas Alexis Gautier Ewan
    helpful•8
    4
    • cverolo
    • Nov 30, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • Afrikaans
      • Zulu
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Weiße Zeit der Dürre
    • Filming locations
      • Zimbabwe
    • Production companies
      • Davros Films
      • Star Partners II Ltd.
      • Sundance Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $9,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,766,879
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $202,507
      • Sep 24, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,766,879
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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