#773: BERESFORD, Bruce: Breaker Morant (1980)

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BERESFORD, Bruce (Australia)
Breaker Morant [1980]
Spine #773
Blu-ray

At the turn of the twentieth-century, three Australian army lieutenants are court-martialed for alleged war crimes committed while fighting in South Africa. With no time to prepare, an Australian major, appointed as defense attorney, must prove that they were just following orders and are being made into political pawns by the British imperial command. Director Bruce Beresford garnered international acclaim for this riveting drama set during a dark period in is country's colonial history, and featuring passionate performances by Edward Woodward, Bryan Brown, and Jack Thompson; rugged cinematography by Donald McAlpine; and an Oscar-nominated script, based on true events.

107 minutes
Color
Monaural
1:85:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2015
Director/Writers


Adapted from the play Breaker Morant by Kenneth Ross.
Beresford was 40 when he directed Breaker Morant.

Other Beresford films in the Collection:

#774: Mister Johnson (1990)

The Film

A

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Ten-page wraparound featuring an essay by film scholar Neil Sinyard.

Commentary

From 2004 featuring Beresford.

Interviews

With Beresford, DP Donald McAlpine, and actor Brown.

Interview

With actor Woodward from 2004.

Piece

About the Boer War with historian Stephen Miller.

The Breaker

A 1973 documentary profiling the real Harry “Breaker” Morant, with a 2010 statement by its director, Frank Shields.

Trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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