In My Country

2005

In My Country

Critics Consensus

A well-intentioned but melodramatic look at post-Apartheid South Africa.

23%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 82

57%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,276

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Movie Info

Langston Whitfield is a Washington Post journalist. His editor provocatively sends him to South Africa to cover the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings, in which the perpetrators of murder and torture on both sides during the Apartheid era are invited to come forward and confront their victims. Telling the unvarnished truth and expressing contrition may grant them granted amnesty. Can the deep wounds of Apartheid be healed through reconciliation? Langston is deeply skeptical. He tracks down Col. De Jager, the most notorious torturer in the SA Police and tries to penetrate the mind of a monster, an experience that obliges him to confront his own demons. Anna Malan, is an Afrikaans poet who is covering the hearings for radio. As a white South African she is shattered by the accounts of the cruelty and depravity committed by her fellow countrymen. Anna and Langston must both question their sense of identity. Where do they each belong? How responsible are they for what is done in the name of their respective countries? The moving testimony of the victims affects them deeply. In different ways they are both estranged from their families, and their shared experience draws them ever closer to each other. It is a story charting the unfathomable depths of human cruelty and the redeeming power of forgiveness and love.
  • Rating:
    R (for language, including descriptions of atrocities, and for a scene of violence)
  • Genre:
    Art House & International, Drama, Romance
  • Directed By:
    John Boorman
  • Written By:
    Ann Peacock
  • In Theaters:
     limited
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Sony Pictures Classics

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson
as Langston Whitfield
Juliette Binoche
as Anna Malan
Brendan Gleeson
as De Jager
Menzi Ngubane
as Dumi Mkhalipi
Menzi 'Ngubs' Ngubane
as Dumi Mkhalipi
Sam Ngakane
as Anderson
Aletta Bezuidenhout
as Elsa
Lionel Newton
as Edward Morgan
Langley Kirkwood
as Boetie
Owen Sejake
as Reverend Mzondo
Harriet Manamela
as Albertina Sobandla
Louis Van Niekirk
as Willem Malan
Jeremiah Ndlovu
as Old Man in Wheelbarrow
Fiona Ramsay
as Felicia Rheinhardt
Charley Boorman
as Adam Hartley
Daniel J. Robbertse
as De Smidt
Dan Robbertse
as De Smidt
Robert Hobbs (II)
as Van Deventer
Lwando Nondzaba
as Peter Makeba
Paul Dirkson
as One Man Band
Yavor Radkov
as Taxi Driver
Trix Pienaar
as B&B Lady
Greg Latter
as Sgt. Dreyer
Albert Maritz
as Farmer
Sizwe Msutu
as Gilbert
Dumisani Mbebe
as Kenneth
Sunu Gonera
as Lionel
Nick Boraine
as Jack Marlon
Connie Chiume
as Mrs. Tabata
Seumus Keir
as Simon
Nicholas Andrews
as Chris
Justin Creasey
as Jonty
Junior Singo
as Troy
Yolanda Methvin
as Deborah
Grant Swanby
as Johan
Jim Paul Eilers
as Police General
Anthony Fridjohn
as Tony Brown
Bheki Vilakazi
as Perpetrator 1
Louw Venter
as Alec
Wayne Harrison
as Brian
Terry Norton
as Lilly
Andre Jacobs
as Judge
Alyce Chavunduka
as Newsreader
Lillian Dube
as Woman
Namhla Ndlovu
as Woman
Lee Duru
as Woman
Nambitha Mpumlwana
as Woman
Garrick Hagon
as Pilot
Johan Marais
as De Jager's Security
Morgan O'Callaghan
as De Jager's Security
Frederrick Dannhauser
as De Jager's Security
Andrew Johnson
as Taxi Driver
Lilian Khumalo
as Commissioner
Genesis Canda
as Commissioner
Tony Finley
as Commissioner
Biah Mokgobu
as Commissioner
Anthony Karriem
as Commissioner
Milton Daka
as Commissioner
Hiportia Hlatana
as Commissioner
Jefferine October
as Commissioner
Noliyanda Pike
as Commissioner
Beverley Bownes
as Commissioner
Justice Khontyo
as 2nd Judge
Denzil Campbel
as 3rd Judge
Christina Ntsomi
as Woman Phone Booth - Corn Field
Xhantyi Nqayi
as Herd Boy
Lulama Nombiba
as Langston's Father
Jean Abrahams
as Langston's Mother-in-Law
Thami Ngubeni
as Deborah's Aunt
Cindi Sampson
as Deborah's Aunt
Michelle Zaaiman
as Inge
Natasha Kotze
as Inge (Voice)
Natalie Dippenaar
as Johan's Wife
Zoliswa Mabawa
as Malan Farmhouse Maid
Elizabeth Mokoatsana
as Crying Woman
John Coom
as Farmer's Father-in-Law
Noel Coom
as Farmer's Mother-in-Law
Shannen Mackay
as Farmer's Daughter
Xola Luse
as Perpetrator 2
Sacky Veto
as Old Man's Grandson
Mohogany Singiswa
as Old Man's Comforter
Moho Seabela
as Albertina's Friend
Zingisa Kobo
as Albertina's Friend
Landiwe Hans
as Albertina's Friend
John Zacharis
as Langston's Driver
Jamo Jahjah
as Soccer Ref
Brian Niewoudt
as Boere Orkes Band
Endrie Nel
as Boere Orkes Band
Nic DuToit
as Boere Orkes Band
Stompie Heyns
as Boere Orkes Band
Susanna Vermeulen
as Boere Orkes Band
Russell Johnson
as Schempers
Morris Uberstein
as Bottle Shop Owner
Thembi Mtshali
as Lizzie
Lara Bye
as Alec's Wife
Marisa Sarfatti
as PR Person
Phumla Stamper
as Translator
Warona Seane
as Translator
John Langemann
as Afrikaner Next to Anna at Hearing
Nkuli Kgositsile
as Woman With Applications
Suzanne Bassett
as Anna Look-a-Like
Amber Stodel
as Lily's Daughter
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News & Interviews for In My Country

Critical Consensus: "SOAP," "Material Girls" Not Screened; "Accepted" Denied; "Sunshine" Shines
Official "Transformers" Footage from Bay’s Own Blog
Critical Consensus: Critics Pan "Emily Rose," "The Man"
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Critic Reviews for In My Country

All Critics (82) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (63)

  • It shows what can go wrong when a good-intentioned filmmaker mixes historical tragedy with Hollywood banality.

    June 9, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

    Richard Nilsen

    Arizona Republic
    Top Critic

  • Ostensibly about the aftermath of apartheid, but the pain of a people serves only as a backdrop for the most contrived of love stories.

    April 22, 2005 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    John Monaghan

    Detroit Free Press
    Top Critic

  • Is it a docudrama about South Africa's post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings? Or is it love story? The problem with In My Country is that it tries to be both.

    April 14, 2005 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

    Bob Townsend

    Atlanta Journal-Constitution
    Top Critic

  • Black, white and clunky.

    April 11, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Stephen Cole

    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic

  • Need[s] to be seen, as essential history and as demonstration of a form of social reckoning where compassion triumphs over passion, and the olive branch over the gun.

    April 8, 2005 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Peter Howell

    Toronto Star
    Top Critic

  • Failing to get beyond trite Hollywood romantic conventions, sermonizing caricatures and 'I was just following orders' explanations does a great disservice to history.

    April 8, 2005 | Rating: 2/5

    Roger Moore

    Orlando Sentinel
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (82)

Audience Reviews for In My Country

  • May 25, 2012
    This movie moved at a snails pace. Its a serious and sad subject, but the way it was presented made it seem secondary to the budding, uninteresting romance.
    Cynthia S Super Reviewer
  • Feb 22, 2009
    Heartfelt story about apartied and amnesty. There were parts of this that were so moving to watch. However as a whole the movie lacked strength for me. It faded a lot. There would be a moment of feeling or inspiration then it would fade again. Not horrible but not great either.
    Sarah . Super Reviewer
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