RED DUST
UK/South Africa, 2004, 110 minutes, Colour.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Hilary Swank, Jamie Bartlett, Ian Roberts, Marius Weyers.
Directed by Tom Hooper.
Red Dust is one of several films about South Africa in the 1990s and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Soon after this film, John Boorman made In My Country with Juliet Binoche and Samuel L. Jackson. They are films designed more for the rest of the world to become conscious of what happened in South Africa rather than for South Africans themselves. However, the film has strong location photography as well as many South Africans in the cast.
Chiwetel Ejiofor is convincing as Alex Mpondo, tortured as a young man, now a politician, facing his torturer in a Truth and Reconciliation hearing. Jamie Bartlett is very convincing as the former police officer who indulged in beatings. Ian Roberts is sinister as the commander of the period who sanctioned the murder of several of the prisoners. Hilary Swank portrays a New York lawyer who grew up in South Africa, was imprisoned briefly for her relationship with a young black man, went to America to study law – with her mother, unable to stay in South Africa, moving to Australia.
The film focuses principally on the hearing, with flashbacks to the torture sequences. The film is strong in characterisations, strong dialogue – by Troy Kennedy Martin, veteran screenwriter for many of the police shows on British television of the past, including The Sweeney. Direction is by Tom Hooper who began directing for television with East Enders and Daniel Deronda, made such films as Longford and The Damned United as well as the award-winning John Adams.
The film is strong, moving and challenging.
1.The history of South Africa, audience awareness? Apartheid, the experience of apartheid? Its principles? The post-apartheid era?
2.The idea of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission? The introductory information to the film, the final quote from Archbishop Tutu? Offenders being able to admit their crimes, experience reconciliation? Not undergo prosecution? An attempt to mend society rather than imprisoning victims in their hatred?
3.The 21st century perspective on the 1990s? The breakdown of apartheid, the heritage of suffering, torture and deaths, disappearances? The role of Nelson Mandela? The visualising of the suffering?
4.The film for international audiences, the effect for African audiences? The American element?
5.The landscapes, the red dust, the terrain, the mountains? The town, the roads? The court? Changes – and Alex using the swimming pool? The past, the cells, the sinister farm?
6.The introduction to Alex, the hero returning, the acclaim? His role as a politician? Meeting Sarah, her taking his case? The visit to the parents of his friend Jimmy? His anger with them, their lack of forgiveness? His inability to remember the detail, the flashbacks, the glimpses, the beatings? Hendricks and his role? The denunciation of Hendricks? Alex’s attitude before the hearing? The interventions? Hendricks’s lawyer pleading post-traumatic stress? His walking from the court? Hendricks accusing him of breaking and giving information? His denial? Going to search for the box, finding it sealed, the list, proof that he did not break? The list being read out in court, the survivors standing? The reality of his hand being lifted to denounce Jimmy? His confessing, the reactions in the town, the attitude towards him as traitor, his violence and confrontation? His swimming, gaining strength? The background in politics – was his career possible in the future? Going to the farm, Muller and his memories, Jimmy’s death? His allowing Hendricks not to be prosecuted? His own future? Integrity?
7.Hendricks and the past, his ideology, fulfilling the law, sadistic in his beatings, the blood? The description of the torture, the beatings, the wet cloth over the head? Muller and his attitude to the case, motivations? Hendricks in the hearing, the lawyer’s tactics? The visit by Sarah and the attempt for a deal, information about Jimmy’s grave? His own history, divorce, post-traumatic stress? Going to the farm, giving the information about Jimmy’s grave? The relief at the end?
8.Alex and Jimmy, their friendship, Jimmy’s parents, their hopes, the feeling of betrayal? The flashbacks to Jimmy, the torture? The revelation of the truth, his grave, his funeral? Truth and reconciliation for Alex with Jimmy’s mother, then with Jimmy’s father?
9.Sarah and her past, her relationship with a boy, sixteen years old, in prison for the night? Knowing firsthand the experience? Hendricks? Hendricks and his taunts, Muller and his taunts? The mother considered unfit, her leaving for Australia, Sarah going to the US, becoming a lawyer, the backing of Ben Hoffman and his support? His wanting her to come to the trial? To return to South Africa? For her own past? The hotel, her being pursued in the street, Muller and his threats? Her actions in court? The visit to Hendricks and the attempt at a deal? Alex and the truth, urging him to admit it? Going to the farm? The verdict, her decision to leave – would she return? The need for her own truth and reconciliation?
10.The Afrikaaners, white, their gatherings, being led in prayer, anti the government, anti the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
11.The contrast with the Africans, the demonstrations and protests, the chants, in the court, their behaviour, denunciations?
12.Muller and his power, his past, the cover-up, threats, the discovery of the truth, his arrest, pleading not guilty in court?
13.The presiding members of the commission, handling of the case, the evidence, going to the farm?
14.Issues of justice, mercy, reconciliation and its consequences? The role of films like this for information, for emotional stories for a worldwide audience to understand?
