SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS
South Africa, 2016, 106 minutes, Colour.
Steve Coogan, Andrea RIseborough, Robert Hobbs, Garion Dowds, Deon Lotz.
Directed by Oliver Schmitz.
During the apartheid years, Oliver Schmitz directed a passionate film, Mapantsulal, raising the issues of race, religion and violence in the context of apartheid. He has said that he wanted to make this present film several decades ago but was unable. And now he has made it. And, an arresting and challenging film it is.
The title? This is explained quite late in the film and refers to the guards who work on death row, have to work in close contact with the prisoners, some shepherding, but then having to accompany them to the gallows and participate as butchers.
The setting is 1987. A young man driving a car crashes on a dark night with a minivan and its black footballer passengers. When the vehicles stop and the footballers start to get out of the van, the young man draws his gun and shoots them all dead, lining up the bodies in a row and then disappearing.
The audience is introduced to a lawyer who has been campaigning against capital punishment for many years, John Webber, played by Steve Coogan (very seriously, a far cry from his comedies and his Alan Partridge persona). The young killer, Leon (Garion Dowds) is silent, and unwillingy to communicate with the lawyer and his assistant, seemingly sullen and resigned to his fate. Webber considers his duty done in meeting with the accused.
However, he does have an idea for the defence, consulting a psychologist as well as his brother-in-law who works in the secret forces action programme to discover the effect of the trauma of killing on an individual. He pursues this line, even when the accused does not want it, but is forced to go along with Webber. The judge for the case is severe, a hanging judge and, with some difficulty, he is persuaded to allow this line of action be used. British actress Andrea Riseborough portrays the prosecuting lawyer.
As the trial proceeds, there are many flashbacks as Webber wants to retrace the life of the accused, who joined the prison staff at the age of 17 and killed the men at the age of 19. What emerges in much detail is the ruthlessness of the prison regime, the young man having no preparation for his work on death row, beginning on his second day, having to learn by experience. It emerges that his work requires him to be close with particular prisoners, meals, showers, meeting their relatives, reading the Scriptures to them – and then having to accompany them, make sure that the rope is long enough for their necks to be quickly broken, and clean up the excrement and mess after they die.
The Warrant Officer from the prison comes to court and is an intimidating presence, especially when the accused has to remember his last day, the prisoners revolt and the difficulties in herding the prisoners to the gallows.
Ultimately, the accused cannot remember what he did at the killing. The mothers of the victims are in court challenging Webber as do the parents of the accused. Webber takes the judge and other members of the court to the scene of the murder to try to understand how the accused reacted, especially to the slamming of the door, reminiscent of the sounds of the hanging lever. The court also goes to the prison, with the Warrant Officer demonstrating the pulling of the lever.
While the film has an apartheid background, it is not specifically about apartheid but it is, much more, a film campaigning against capital punishment – with the information at the end about South Africa abolishing capital punishment at the beginning of the presidency of Nelson Mandela in 1995.
An interesting if sobering experience.
1. A film from South Africa, 21st century perspective on the apartheid years? Race issues, justice issues, criminals, capital punishment? Inspired by actual events?
2. The locations, Pretoria, the countryside, the prison, interiors? The white households and luxury? The courts? The musical score?
3. The title, the tone, as explained by John Webber about the guards on death row?
4. The 1987 setting, the situation, the last years of apartheid, the maximum security prisons, the number of prisoners, black prisoners, the record number of executions?
5. Leon, driving, the encounter with the minibus, his stopping, the confrontation, his shooting the men, laying them out, leaving?
6. The case, Leon aged 19, arrest, in custody for six months, being silent, refusing to answer John Webber and his assistant? Wanting to say nothing? The issue of trauma, the parallel with war killings, exploring the theme, the discussions with the psychologist? The basis for the defence?
7. Steve Coogan as John Webber, serious man, his campaign about capital punishment, many years since acting as defence, being unwilling, meeting with Leon, having done his duty, Leon lacking response?
8. Webber’s thought, for the defence, the discussions with Pierre, about action, about the effect of killing? Pierre and his information about the jail? Meeting in the dark place, his anger, drinking after being involved in special action? Webber’s sister and her relationship with Pierre?
9. The meetings with Leon, strict, prepared to have Leon crack, yet his being expressionless?
10. The judge, his associates, the reputation, his conduct of the case, the prosecuting lawyer, her approach, the facts, tough?
11. Interrogation about the facts, their being clear, Leon’s parents present, the mothers of the victims, the parents confronting Webber, the mothers attacking him? His being quite inarticulate with the attackers?
12. His strategy, going back over Leon’s life, prefect at school, religious, guard at 17, his wife, child, drinking, bashing, the separation, there not coming to the court? His being appointed to work on death row on his second day? The role of the Warrant Officer, no criteria for Leon for the job, no training, learning by experience, the end of the first day and his accompanying the prisoner, having to choose him? His fears, wetting the floor? Measuring the length of rope needed for clean break? The hood, the footprints, the dropped to death, the pit and the piss and shit, Leon being sick?
13. Working for two years, the other guards, the effect, the episode when he had to lift the rope because the man was not dead, dropping it twice? The interrogation about his relationship with the prisoners, reading the Bible, getting to know them, meeting their families, meals, showers, then accompanying them to death? The example of the 1919-year-old and Leon thinking he should not be executed?
14. The judge, his opinions, allowing whether to proceed or not, issues of privacy, public record? The objections? The Warrant Officer present – a sinister presence?
15. The interrogation about the detail, the last day, the prisoners rebelling, the fights, the bashings, the executions?
16. Leon calling out to the Warrant Officer, accusing him of not giving him any help?
17. The re-creation of the final day, Leon having no memory of the deaths, some of the scenes coming back? The judge stopping the interrogation?
18. The group going to the site, the noise of the van shutting, everybody shuddering, Webber’s point about noise being the trigger for Leon to kill? The visit to death row, the Warrant Officer demonstrating?
19. Webber, bullying Leon on the stand, strategically, his tears? The prosecutor and her bad interpretation of all the events, saying he was complicit, participating in the jokes? His denials?
20. Webber, the discussions with the prosecutor, her congratulating him on his case?
21. The verdict, Leon not getting the death penalty, prison, possibility of parole? His family reactions? The women? Webber and his satisfaction? The role of his assistant, the examinations, his continued scepticism?
22. Webber and his achievement, the issue of capital punishment, his accusations that the guards were made killers and, therefore, authorities kill them? The singing and dancing outside the court?
23. The information about the ending of capital punishment, the statistics, the end of apartheid, the coming of Nelson Mandela?
