Shepherds and Butchers

Shepherds and Butchers
Film poster
Directed by Oliver Schmitz
Written by Oliver Schmitz
Screenplay by Brian Cox
Starring Andrea Riseborough
Release date
  • 13 February 2016 (2016-02-13) (Berlin)
Running time
 103 minutes
Country South Africa
Language English

Shepherds and Butchers is a 2016 South African drama film directed by Oliver Schmitz. It was shown in the Panorama section at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.[1] It is an adaptation of the debut novel of the same name by Chris Marnewick, a New Zealand-based author and former South African High Court barrister and judge.[2]

Plot

During the height of apartheid in South Africa, a young white prison guard (Garion Dowds) embarks on a seemingly motiveless shooting spree that leaves seven black men dead. A British-born lawyer assigned to his case (Steve Coogan) sets out to prove his actions were a direct result of psychological trauma from his volatile work environment. The defense attorney is an ardent opponent of the death penalty.

Cast

  • Steve Coogan as John Weber - Defense Attorney
  • Andrea Riseborough as Kathleen Murray - Prosecutor
  • Garion Dowds as Leon Labuschagne - Defendant
  • Deon Lotz as Warrant Officer Rautenbach - Prison officer
  • Marcel van Heerden as Justice J. P. van Zyl - Chief Judge
  • Robert Hobbs as Pierre De Villiers - John's Brother-in-law

Awards

The film received third place in the Panoroma Audience Award at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Berlinale 2016: Panorama 2016 Complete". Berlinale. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "The dark shadow of the death penalty". The New Zealand Herald. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "The Awards Of The 66th Berlin International Film Festival" (PDF). Berlinale.


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