In My Country
| In My Country | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Boorman |
| Produced by |
John Boorman Kieran Corrigan Robert Chartoff Lynn Hendee Mike Medavoy |
| Written by |
Antjie Krog Ann Peacock |
| Starring |
Samuel L. Jackson Juliette Binoche Brendan Gleeson |
| Music by | Murray C. Anderson & Warrick Sony |
| Distributed by | Columbia TriStar |
Release dates | March 11, 2004 |
Running time | 103 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $12 million US |
| Box office | $1,491,434[1] |
In My Country is a 2004 drama film directed by John Boorman, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Juliette Binoche. The screenplay, written by Ann Peacock, was based on Antjie Krog's memoir Country of My Skull.
A special screening of the film was held for Nelson Mandela in December 2003 in the presence of John Boorman, Juliette Binoche and Robert Chartoff.
Plot
The movie deals with the story of Afrikaner poet Anna Malan (Binoche) and an American journalist, Langston Whitfield (Jackson), sent to South Africa to report about the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings.
Cast
- Juliette Binoche... Anna Malan
- Samuel L. Jackson... Langston Whitfield
- Brendan Gleeson... De Jager
- Menzi Ngubane... Dumi Mkhalipi
- Aletta Bezuidenhout... Elsa
- Lionel Newton... Edward Morgan
- Langley Kirkwood... Boetie
- Owen Sejake... Reverend Mzondo
- Charley Boorman... Adam Hartley
Production
Filming took place in and around Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula. Capetonians and travellers familiar with the city will recognise several well-known land-marks co-opted to represent scenes within the film:
- The South African Museum, The Gardens, Cape Town
- Tuin Huis
- Table Mountain
- The Countryside and surrounds of Paarl and Malmesbury.
- The Mt. Nelson Hotel
- Locations in Stellenbosch.
The film made heavy use of distinguished South African actors and actresses of all backgrounds for both bit and prominent parts. In addition, authenticity was greater than many other productions both before and since through the use of actual furniture, fixtures, motor vehicles and many other touches to ensured that The Country of My Skull is a remarkably South African production.
Of further note is that the film spanned in virtually the entire country's fund of technical talent at the SABC and other film studios.
Reception
Nelson Mandela liked the film, and provided producers with a quote for promotion of the film:
- "A beautiful and important film about South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It will engage and influence not only South Africans, but people all over the world concerned with the great questions of human reconciliation, forgiveness, and tolerance."
While the film was thought to have its "heart and politics in the right place", the Washington Post described it as a "formula romance", in which Binoche fails at the Afrikaans accent and Jackson's character lacks credibility as a Post reporter.[2] The film also received much criticism for the inclusion of a love affair, and its depiction of black South Africans.[3]
Awards
Berlin Film Festival 2004
- Winner of Diamond Cinema for Peace Award 2004.
References
- ↑ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=inmycountry.htm
- ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15797-2005Mar31.html
- ↑ In My Country Movie Reviews, Pictures. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 2011-01-07.