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A Dry White Season

A Dry White Season

Drama · Thriller · 1989

During the 1976 Soweto uprising, a white school teacher's life and values are threatened when he asks questions about the death of a young black boy who died in police custody.

Movie details

A Dry White Season

1989 Drama · Thriller 1h 47m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.7 / 10

Community rating

During the 1976 Soweto uprising, a white school teacher's life and values are threatened when he asks questions about the death of a young black boy who died in police custody.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over A Dry White Season?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Euzhan Palcy

Written by

Colin Welland · Euzhan Palcy

Donald Sutherland

Donald Sutherland

Ben du Toit

Janet Suzman

Janet Suzman

Susan du Toit

Zakes Mokae

Zakes Mokae

Stanley Makhaya

Jürgen Prochnow

Jürgen Prochnow

Captain Stolz

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon

Melanie Bruwer

Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando

Ian McKenzie

Winston Ntshona

Winston Ntshona

Gordon Ngubene

Court is in session

Put A Dry White Season on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.