In My Country
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
John Boorman
Samuel L. Jackson
Juliette Binoche
Brendan Gleeson
Menzi Ngubane
Sam Ngakane
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1996, the South African government established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to investigate abuses of human rights under Apartheid. Under the chairmanship of Nobel Peace laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the commission was mandated to examine acts committed between March 1960, the date of the Sharpeville massacre, and May 10, 1994, the day of Mandela's inauguration as president. In accordance with the African principle of "Ubuntu," which strives to create harmony amongst all people by absolving transgressions, the commission set up a series of hearings throughout the country to help heal the wounds of Apartheid. The hearings would serve as a forum for the perpetrators of murder and torture during the apartheid era to come forward and confront their victims. By telling the unvarnished truth and expressing contrition, they might be granted amnesty, if they could prove that their crimes were politically motivated--that they were only following orders. Langston Whitfield is a Washington Post journalist, sent to South Africa to cover the TRC hearings. He is apprehensive about the trip, as he is skeptical about the process of reconciliation--feeling that it is just a way for the perpetrators to escape without punishment. Anna Malan is an Afrikaans poet covering the hearings for South African state radio and NPR in the US. Anna is enthusiastic about the process before them, having great reverence for her native African traditions, and great hopes to see her country healed. Thrown together as members of the international press corps, Langston and Anna meet and are instantly at odds over their opposing views of the hearings. But over time, their shared experience of listening to the moving and painful testimony brings them ever closer. Meanwhile, searching for a more sensational angle for his story, Langston tracks down Col. De Jager, the most notorious torturer in the SA Police, and tries to penetrate the mind of a monster. Unexpectedly, the experience forces him to confront his own demons and leads to the discovery of a devastating connection between Anna and the perpetrators of violence.
Director
John Boorman
Cast
Samuel L. Jackson
Juliette Binoche
Brendan Gleeson
Menzi Ngubane
Sam Ngakane
Aletta Bezuidenhout
Lionel Newton
Langley Kirkwood
Owen Sejake
Harriet Manamela
Louis Van Niekirk
Jeremiah Ndlovu
Fiona Ramsey
Charley Boorman
Dan Robbertse
Robert Hobbs
Paul Dirkson
Lwando Nondzaba
Trix Pienaar
Greg Latter
Albert Maritz
Sizwe Msufu
Dumisani Mbebe
Sunu Gonera
Nick Boraine
Connie Chiume
Seumus Keir
Nicholas Andrew
Justin Creasey
Junior Singo
Yolanda Methvin
Grant Swanby
Paul Eilers
Anthony Fridjohn
Bheki Vilakazi
Louw Venter
Wayne Harrison
Terry Norton
Andre Jacobs
Alyce Chavunduka
Lillian Dube
Namhla Ndlovu
Lee Duru
Nambitha Mpumlwana
Garrick Hagon
Johan Marais
Morgan O'callaghan
Frederrick Dannhauser
Andrew Johnson
Lilian Khumalo
Genesis Canda
Tony Finley
Biah Mokgobu
Anthony Karriem
Milton Daka
Hiportia Hlatana
Jefferine October
Noliyanda Pike
Beverley Bownes
Justice Khontyo
Denzil Campbel
Christina Ntsomi
Xhantyi Nqayi
Lulama Nombiba
Jean Abrahams
Thami Ngubeni
Cindi Sampson
Michelle Zaaiman
Natasha Kotze
Natalie Dippenaar
Zoliswa Mabawa
Elizabeth Mokoatsana
John Coom
Noel Coom
Shannen Mackay
Xola Luse
Sacky Veto
Mohogany Singiswa
Moho Seabela
Zingisa Kobo
Landiwe Hans
John Zacharis
Jamo Jahjah
Brian Niewoudt
Endrie Nel
Nic Du Toit
Stompie Heyns
Susanna Vermeulen
Russell Johnson
Morris Uberstein
Thembi Mtshali
Lara Bye
Marisa Sarfatti
Phumla Stamper
Warona Seane
John Langemann
Nkuli Kgositsile
Suzanne Bassett
Amber Stodel
Yavor Radkov
Fiona Ramsay
Crew
Murray Anderson
Murray Anderson
Murray Anderson
Chris Auty
Sam Bhembe
Graeme Blem
John Boorman
Jamie Brown
Robert Chartoff
Kieran Corrigan
Ron Davis
Ron Davis
Brendan Deasy
Seamus Deasy
Paul Dirksen
Fred Du Preez
Noel Eccles
Princess Soi-soi Gaqeza
Lynn Hendee
Jo Katsaras
Diana Keam
Philip King
Philip King
Antjie Krog
Mandla Lande
Genevieve Le Cordier
Moonyeenn Lee
Moonyeenn Lee
Michael Ludonga
Bongani Mafumana
Zukile Malahlana
Brian Masterson
Simpiwe Matole
Mxolisi Mayekane
Mike Medavoy
Janet Meintjies
Tina Moran
Mpho Motheane
Ann Peacock
Neil Peplow
Duncan Reid
Warrick Swinney
Warrick Swinney
Mfundi Vundla
Emelia Roux Weavind
David Wicht
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States February 2004
Released in United States on Video July 5, 2005
Released in United States Spring March 11, 2005
Shown at Berlin International Film Festival February 5-15, 2004.
Sony Pictures Classics acquired North American distribution rights at the 2004 Berlin International Film Festival.
Released in United States February 2004 (Shown at Berlin International Film Festival February 5-15, 2004.)
Released in United States Spring March 11, 2005
Released in United States on Video July 5, 2005
