#953: PALCY, Euzhan: A Dry White Season (1989)

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PALCY, Euzhan (United States)
A Dry White Season [1989]
Spine #953
Blu-ray


With this bracing drama, made at the climax of the anti-apartheid movement, director Euzhan Palcy issued a devastating indictment of South Africa's racist government — and made history in the process, becoming the first black woman to direct a Hollywood studio film. White schoolteacher Ben Du Toit (Donald Sutherland) lives in Johannesburg and remains blissfully incurious about the lives of his black countrymen until a wave of brutal treatment comes crashing down on his gardener (Winston Ntshona), bringing Du Toit face-to-face with harsh political realities. Based on a celebrated novel by André Brink and rooted in the first-hand research the Martinican Palcy did in South Afirca into the way black people lived under apartheid, A Dry White Season is unflinching in its depiction of violence and its chronicling of injustice, making for a galvanizing tribute to those willing to sacrifice everything to fight oppression.

106 minutes
Color
Stereo
1:85:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2018
Director/Writers


Based on the novel by André Brink.
Screenplay by Colin Welland and Euzhan Palcy.
Palcy was 31 when she directed A Dry White Season.

The Film

A

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

 The Booklet

Ten page wraparound featuring an essay by filmmaker and scholar Jyoti Mistry.

Commentary

None.

Interview 1

With director Palcy by film critic Scott Foundas.

Five Scenes

A program featuring Palcy.

Interview 2

From 1989 with actor Sutherland.

Excerpt

From a l985 interview with Palcy conducted with Nelson Mandela.

Footage

Of Palcy receiving the highest distinction for foreign dignitaries at the 2017 South African National Orders award.

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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