Shepherds and Butchers (2016)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 106 minuten
Alternative title: The Hangman: Shepherds and Butchers
Country:
South Africa / United States / Germany
Directed by: Oliver Schmitz
Stars: Garion Dowds, Steve Coogan and Andrea Riseborough
IMDb score:
6,8 (3.199)
Releasedate: 12 May 2017
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Shepherds and Butchers plot
"Death Belongs To God Alone"
South Africa, 1987. When Leon, a 19-year-old white prison guard, shoots seven black men, the outcome of the trial and the court sentence seems a foregone conclusion. Attorney John Weber reluctantly takes on the seemingly unwinnable case. John, a passionate opponent of the death penalty, discovers that Leon was working on the death row of the country's most notorious prison, under harsh conditions. As the hearings begin, John is given the opportunity to question the entire death penalty system.
Actors and actresses
John Weber
Kathleen Marais
Leon Labuschagne
Justice J. P. van Zyl
Warrant Officer Rautenbach
Pedrie Wierda
Liesl Weber
Pierre De Villiers
John's Sister
Tennis partner
Reviews & comments
scorsese
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- 12604 messages
- 10674 votes
Good film in which a prison guard is on trial for shooting seven men in a van. The film is set in South Africa in 1987, but the political climate of the time does not really play a role here. The film is more about the death penalty and how it was carried out. A rather standard courtroom drama, but solidly presented and the story itself is simply fascinating.
PapaBeartje
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- 709 messages
- 1025 votes
Intriguing story, of a lawyer who has to help his client, in an impossible starting position. Steve Coogan & Garion Dowds give a very good performance. The film has a number of intense scenes, which can/may be experienced as shocking. Story was well put together.
Shadowed
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- 10168 messages
- 6086 votes
South African director Oliver Schmitz portrays the court in a very realistic way. So realistic in fact that as a viewer I regularly forgot that there are quite a few well-known cast members walking around, including Steve Coogan as a lawyer. Screenwriters Brian Cox and Chris Marnewick tell an interesting story that is presented in a believable way, but ultimately leave it open as to what exactly the substantive complaint focuses on. In any case, afterwards it was not clear to me whether the death penalty itself was being criticized, or rather the situation surrounding the death penalty. It is also a pity that Garion Dowds is not convincing as a tormented criminal, which makes the film a lot lacks emotional impact. Visually, the event looks a bit too neat, but in the end the end result is easily captivating. Especially if you find films about legal cases interesting, you will enjoy Shepherds and Butchers.
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