Please don't spend money on this.

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

"Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful, murder respectable, and give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." - OrwellDirected by Euzhan Palcy, "A Dry White Season" is set in 1970s South Africa. It stars Donald Sutherland as Ben Du Toit, a school teacher who remains blind to the realities of South Africa's system of Apartheid (which divided human beings into racial classifications and then denied many of them fundamental human rights). In denial about the treatment of his black friends and employees, Ben scoffs at the notion that White Power has been systematically murdering, killing, oppressing and exploiting. He remains cocooned in a world of privilege, adamant that everything is right in the world.Ben's naivety crumbles when he begins to investigate the murders of many black South Africans at the hands of a corrupt government and police force. With the help of a human rights attorney (Marlon Brando), he seeks justice.At its best, "A Dry White Season" details how adept Power is at covering up crimes, how such cover-ups rely on a kind of mass delusion, and how expert Power is at crushing those brave few who dare speak truth. The film's depictions of violence directed at blacks are also shockingly powerful, and it remains markedly better than similar films of the era ("Cry Freedom", "A World Apart"). Whilst "A Dry White Season" means well, though, the film is nevertheless mostly formulaic. Ben's your typical noir hero, locked in a quest designed solely to educate audiences. This lends the film a coddling, sanctimonious quality, everything neatly arranged and spelt out, our hands held along the way. Susan Sarandon co-stars as a local journalist.7.9/10 – Worth one viewing. For Brando in a superior film about racial oppression, seek Pontecorvo's "Burn!"

For many years the government of South Africa carried on it's secret, grizzly business of imprisonment, torture and murder. Hundreds and then thousands of black South Africans were detained, arrested, beaten to death causing the numerous unofficial grave sites to overflow. Until then, many whites of South Africa either ignored their murderous brethren's brutalities or feigned ignorance of the atrocities. "A Dry White Season" rips deeply into the social fabric of both white myths, that proclaimed the enemy consisted of Black terrorists and anarchistic communists and the notion every white Africanier knew what was taking place and turned their heads. One family patriarch, Ben Du Toit (pronouched Toy) Donald Sutherland realizes he and his sanitized life style is to blame when a black Gardner and his son are both arrested and murdered without anyone caring. In order to get the government to change, he must challenge the Police Security Forces, or 'Special Branch' and it's formidable figurehead, Captain Stolz (Jürgen Prochnow, who is convincing as the menace behind the murderers). Marlon Brando is curiously interesting as Ian McKenzie as a sympathetic lawyer. Winston Ntshona is Gordon Ngubene a courageous national unafraid of anything except failure. All in all, a great film which needs to be seen by anyone who cares. ****

Euzhan Palcy is a great director. She has broken many barriers for Black Female Filmmakers. Most of her work has been political with strong impact, as this film is. Never before have we seen such a story told through the eyes of a black woman and done so well that she received critical acclaim.I have to disagree with Mr. Trevor Moses that this was an awful film. Also, Mr. Moses get your facts straight. The director of this film Ms. Palcy was not a racist hence the amazing cast. And one last thing these actors did this movie for almost nothing, including Robert Redford who did it for FREE, all because they saw her vision. FYI check out www.euzhanpalcy.com

I believe this to be one of Marlon Brando's most underrated performances. The film itself is a splendid period piece of Apartheid South Africa. I rarely see this movie mentioned in biographical comment with regard to Brando's career, and yet, it is a stunning performance. I assume the lack of comment is the fact that he only played a supporting role, and that the subject of apartheid probably denied it a higher profile. As somebody who has lived in South Africa, both before and after apartheid, i cannot tell you how accurate the performance of Brando is in this role. There is no doubt in my mind that he must have studied meticulously before playing this part. I do not know why, but there are a large percentage of professional people in South Africa who have an almost perfect "Queen's English" accent...but it is tinged with a slight South African edge which only the most perceptive can detect. Not only does Marlon Brando capture this perception, but he somehow manages to replicate it, which i have always found truly incredible. You would have to live South Africa to know how fantastic his voicing is in this part, but believe me, apart from the power of his acting, this role is a truly stunning illustration of his amazing ability. I hope this movie will obtain the higher profile it deserves in the future.Manny Wah Hong Kong