A Dry White Season Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A naive white guy accidentally becomes a revolutionary after his gardener’s son gets disappeared by the cops, leading to a complete family meltdown and a dramatic final showdown.

🍿 A Dry White Season: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Ben du Toit

Ben du Toit, a white Afrikaner schoolteacher in 1970s South Africa, lives a comfortable life, seemingly oblivious to the racial injustices surrounding him. He considers himself a just man, but his understanding of justice is limited to his immediate circle. His gardener, Gordon, is a loyal and trusted employee.

The Spark of Awareness

When Gordon’s son, Jonathan, is brutally beaten and arrested during a student protest, Gordon seeks Ben’s help. Ben’s initial attempts to assist are met with bureaucratic indifference and veiled threats. As Gordon persists in his search for his son, he too becomes a target of the ruthless security police.

Descent into Brutality

Gordon is arrested and subjected to horrific torture, ultimately dying in police custody. Ben, now awakened to the true nature of the apartheid regime, embarks on a quest to uncover the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice. This decision alienates him from his family and community, who are deeply invested in maintaining the status quo.

Fighting the System

Ben seeks legal recourse, enlisting the help of a cynical but determined human rights lawyer, Ian McKenzie. Their efforts to expose the truth through the legal system are met with corruption and obstruction. Ben faces increasing threats and violence, losing his job and his family in the process.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ben du Toit (Donald Sutherland): A white South African schoolteacher who undergoes a moral awakening and fights against apartheid after witnessing its injustices firsthand.
• Stanley (Zakes Mokae): A black South African taxi driver and friend of Gordon who aids Ben in his fight against apartheid.
• Captain Stolz (Jürgen Prochnow): The ruthless and sadistic captain in the South African police force, representing the brutality of the apartheid regime.
• Susan (Janet Suzman): Ben’s wife who initially supports the status quo and struggles to accept her husband’s transformation.
• Marlon Brando (McKenzie): A cynical human rights lawyer who helps Ben navigate the corrupt legal system in his pursuit of justice.
• Gordon (Winston Ntshona): Ben’s gardener whose son’s death triggers Ben’s awakening to the injustices of apartheid.
• Melanie (Susan Sarandon): A British journalist who supports Ben’s cause and helps expose the truth about apartheid.

💬 Memorable 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.” – McKenzie explains the near impossibility of achieving justice for black South Africans within the existing legal system.
• Stanley: “Hope is a white word.” – Said after Gordon’s death, expressing the deep-seated cynicism and lack of faith in the system held by black South Africans.
• Susan: “Don’t you think the blacks wouldn’t do the same to us, and worse, if they had half a chance? …We have to survive, and you must choose your own people.” – Susan expresses her fear and rationalizes her support for the status quo and the apartheid system.
• Gordon: “I want my son’s body.” – Gordon’s persistent demand while being tortured, highlighting the basic human right being denied.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $9,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $3,766,879
• Worldwide Gross: $3,766,879

💥 A Dry White Season Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching this movie and just being completely floored. It’s one of those films that stays with you long after the credits roll. Seeing Sutherland’s character, so comfortable in his ignorance, slowly wake up to the horrific reality of apartheid was powerful. The courtroom scene with Brando is iconic, and the ending just hits you right in the gut. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s an important one. This film truly shows how ordinary people can be on the wrong side and how one person can make a difference.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Viewers interested in historical dramas about social justice”
  • “Fans of Donald Sutherland and Marlon Brando”
  • “Individuals seeking films that explore themes of apartheid and racial inequality”
  • “People interested in political thrillers”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence and torture”
  • “Racial slurs and offensive language”
  • “Disturbing scenes of police brutality”
  • “Themes of death, loss, and injustice”

Professional Reviews

• Roger Ebert: “A Dry White Season bravely tackles the horrors of apartheid through the eyes of a privileged white man awakening to the injustices around him. Sutherland delivers a compelling performance, though the film sometimes veers into melodrama, it is an important and impactful story. Brando’s courtroom performance is legendary and worth the watch.
• Variety: “Palcy’s direction is commendable, effectively portraying the escalating tension and brutality of apartheid. Sutherland anchors the film with a nuanced performance as a man torn between his comfortable life and his growing conscience. While the plot can be predictable, the emotional impact is undeniable.
• The New York Times: “While A Dry White Season addresses a vital historical issue, it occasionally suffers from heavy-handedness. Donald Sutherland gives a commendable performance, but the story’s focus on a white protagonist can overshadow the experiences of the Black South Africans who were the primary victims of apartheid.

Audience Reactions

Marlon Brando’s performance is unforgettable.: Viewers consistently praise Marlon Brando’s supporting role as the human rights lawyer, noting its power and impact despite limited screen time.

The movie opens your eyes to the harsh reality of Apartheid.: Many viewers felt the film accurately depicted the brutality of apartheid and opened their eyes to the injustices suffered by black South Africans.

Sutherland’s character transformation is compelling.: Audiences admired Donald Sutherland’s portrayal of a man gradually awakening to the truth and his subsequent fight for justice.

Overall Consensus: A powerful but sometimes melodramatic depiction of apartheid, driven by strong performances, particularly from Donald Sutherland and Marlon Brando. The film raises awareness of the injustices of the time but may be perceived as focusing too heavily on a white perspective.

Awards

1. Tokyo International Film Festival (Best Artistic Contribution)- 1989

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Euzhan Palcy became the first Black woman to direct a major Hollywood movie with ‘A Dry White Season’.”
• “Marlon Brando took a smaller role in this movie after a long break from acting because he deeply believed in the film’s anti-apartheid message.”
• “The film was shot on location in Zimbabwe, standing in for South Africa due to the political sensitivity of the subject matter.”

🖥️ How to Watch A Dry White Season?

A Dry White Season is available for rent or purchase on various platforms. You can find it on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and other digital retailers. Check your local listings for availability on streaming services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed A Dry White Season, you might like these similar films:

• Cry Freedom (1987): Another powerful drama about apartheid in South Africa, focusing on the friendship between a white journalist and black activist Steve Biko.
• Mississippi Burning (1988): Explores similar themes of racial injustice and violence in the American South during the Civil Rights era, with law enforcement complicity.
• The Help (2011): Offers a more modern perspective on racial prejudice and discrimination in the American South, focusing on the relationships between white families and their black maids.
• Amistad (1997): Historical drama that tackles themes of slavery, justice, and human rights, with a focus on the legal battles surrounding the Amistad slave ship rebellion.

🛒 A Dry White Season Related Products

• Cry Freedom [Blu-ray]: A powerful film also about the horrors of Apartheid, starring Denzel Washington. Great movie to watch along with A Dry White Season
• Nelson Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom: A great movie that celebrates the man who fought against apartheid and became the first black president of South Africa
• Apartheid South Africa T-Shirt: A powerful and stylish T-shirt that helps to show that you want apartheid to be remembered.
• The Power of One Book by Bryce Courtenay: An amazing book about a boy growing up in South Africa during apartheid, becoming a boxer and the difference he makes

🎧 Soundtrack

A Dry White Season features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Unomatheba” – performed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Euzhan Palcy’s Closet Picks

Ever wonder what movies shaped the vision of the director of ‘A Dry White Season’? Euzhan Palcy shares some of her favorites, and it’s really cool to see what inspired her!

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