7.0/10
5,008
39 user 23 critic

A Dry White Season (1989)

R | | Drama, Thriller | 20 September 1989 (USA)
A Dry White Season Poster
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.

Director:

Euzhan Palcy

Writers:

André P. Brink (novel) (as André Brink), Colin Welland (screenplay) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, Zakes Mokae | See full cast & crew »
68
Reviews
Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donald Sutherland ... Ben
Janet Suzman ... Susan
Zakes Mokae ... Stanley
Jürgen Prochnow ... Captain Stolz (as Jurgen Prochnow)
Susan Sarandon ... Melanie
Marlon Brando ... McKenzie
Winston Ntshona ... Gordon
Thoko Ntshinga Thoko Ntshinga ... Emily
Leonard Maguire Leonard Maguire ... Bruwer
Gerard Thoolen ... Col. Viljoen
Susannah Harker ... Suzette
Andrew Whaley Andrew Whaley ... Chris
Rowen Elmes Rowen Elmes ... Johan
Stella Dickin Stella Dickin ... Susan's Mother
David de Keyser David de Keyser ... Susan's Father (as David De Keyser)
See full cast »
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Storyline

Ben du Toit (Donald Sutherland) is a schoolteacher who always has considered himself a man of caring and justice, at least on the individual level. When his gardener, Stanley's (Zakes Mokae's) son, Jonathan (Bekhithemba Mpofu), is brutally beaten up by the Police at a demonstration by black school children, he gradually begins to realize his own society is built on a pillar of injustice and exploitation. Written by Mattias Thuresson

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

anti apartheid activist | state violence | tortured prisoners | gardener | south africa | See All (212) »

Taglines:

One man has opened his eyes to the truth.

Genres:

Drama | Thriller

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer and Director Euzhan Palcy and Producer Paula Weinstein battled to have South Africans cast for this movie's black African characters. See more »

Goofs

When Susan walks in on Ben and Stanley on Christmas day, she is carrying 2 suitcases and does not have her jacket draped on her shoulders. In the next scene, she is leaving the room with the jacket around her shoulders, is carrying only 1 suitcase and it is different than either of the ones she was carrying initially. See more »

Quotes

Melanie Bruwer: You'd better put your rage into perspective, Benjamin Du Toit. This is a long distance race, you'll need to pace yourself.
Ben du Toit: I suppose cynicism goes with the job!
Melanie Bruwer: It's not cynicism, it's realism.
Ben du Toit: It has nothing to do with *my* reality.
Melanie Bruwer: It has *everything* to do with your reality. Just because you haven't seen it before doesn't mean hasn't always existed!
See more »

Connections

Featured in They've Gotta Have Us: Black is the New Hollywood (2018) See more »

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.
See more »

User Reviews

 
Very interesting
7 June 2002 | by barbara_caroline – See all my reviews

I found the story very interesting because it's a real story about the South Africa.The film opens on the demonstrations and riots in Soweto,I like this extract even if it was violent.The main character of Benjamin Dutoit is interesting because he is the hand of the Black.He is brave.
6 of 9 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
Review this title | See all 39 user reviews »

Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

Afrikaans | Zulu | English

Release Date:

20 September 1989 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

A Dry White Season See more »

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$202,507, 24 September 1989

Gross USA:

$3,766,879

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,766,879
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Davros Films, Star Partners II Ltd., Sundance Productions See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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