Country of My Skull (2004)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

John Boorman

Writers (WGA):

Antjie Krog (book)
Ann Peacock (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 May 2004 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A South African Story of Truth, Love and Reconcilliation

Plot:

Langston Whitfield is a Washington Post journalist. His editor provocatively sends him to South Africa...

Plot Keywords:

South Africa | Interracial Relationship

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

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

Directed by
John Boorman

Writing credits (WGA)
Antjie Krog		(book "Country of My Skull")
Ann Peacock		(screenplay)

Produced by
Chris Auty	....	executive producer
Sam Bhembe	....	executive producer
John Boorman	....	producer
Jamie Brown	....	executive producer
Robert Chartoff	....	producer
Kieran Corrigan	....	producer
Peter Fudakowski	....	associate producer
Michael L. Games	....	line producer
Niles E. Helmboldt	....	associate producer
Lynn Hendee	....	producer
Mike Medavoy	....	producer
Neil Peplow	....	executive producer
Duncan Reid	....	executive producer
Mfundi Vundla	....	executive producer
David Wicht	....	co-producer: South Africa

Original Music by
Murray Anderson

Cinematography by
Seamus Deasy

Film Editing by
Ron Davis

Casting by
Moonyeenn Lee
Janet Meintjies

Production Design by
Emilia Roux
Derek Wallace

Art Direction by
Emilia Roux		(as Emilia Roux-Weavind)

Set Decoration by
Graeme Blem
Fred Du Preez

Costume Design by
Jo Katsaras

Makeup Department
Allan A. Apone	....	makeup artist: Samuel L. Jackson
Annette Keet	....	key hair stylist
Annette Keet	....	key makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair stylist: Samuel L. Jackson
Simone Stubbs	....	assistant hair stylist
Simone Stubbs	....	assistant makeup artist
Mieke Tait	....	assistant hair stylist
Mieke Tait	....	assistant makeup artist
Megan Tanner	....	key hair stylist
Megan Tanner	....	key makeup artist
Leon von Solms	....	makeup artist: Juliette Binoche

Production Management
Sandra Campbell	....	post-production supervisor
Genevieve Le Cordeur	....	unit production manager
Morgan Pather	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kevan Barker	....	second unit director
Gareth Bird	....	third assistant director
Ryan Fox	....	third assistant director
Diana Keam	....	first assistant director
Carey Lagoe	....	assistant director: second unit
Jon-Luke Lourens	....	second assistant director
Matthew Muskett	....	second second assistant director
Shamiel Soni	....	third assistant director

Art Department
William Boyes	....	stand-by props
Merinda Geyer	....	art department coordinator
Andrew Orlando	....	property master
Tracy Perkins	....	set dresser
Brendan Smithers	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Brendan Deasy	....	production sound mixer
Caoimhe Doyle	....	additional foley artist
Martin Evans	....	supervising sound editor
John Fitzgerald	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joe Gilmore	....	dialogue editor
Roland Hoek	....	trainee dialogue editor
Tom Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Fiadhnait McCann	....	assistant sound editor
Jim Petrak	....	adr recordist
Eddie Quinn	....	boom operator
Nick Watson	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Cathi Weldon	....	foley editor
Brendan Geaney	....	transfer recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roly Jansen	....	special effects coordinator
Cordell McQueen	....	special effects coordinator
Anton Voster	....	special effects crew

Visual Effects by
Tim Caplan	....	digital intermediate producer
Dimitri Delacovias	....	matte painting supervisor
William Foxwell	....	digital lab operator: Lip Sync Post
Scott Goulding	....	digital lab operator
Gavin Graham	....	effects animator: Double Negative
Jan Hogevold	....	production executive: Framestore CFC
Katja Hollmann	....	digital lab supervisor: Lipsync Post
Alex Hope	....	visual effects executive producer
Max Horton	....	colourist
Graham Jack	....	computer graphics supervisor
Katy Lemon	....	digital lab operator: Lip Sync Post
Fay McConkey	....	visual effects producer
Dan McRae	....	digital cleanup artist
Charlie Noble	....	visual effects supervisor
Paul Norris	....	digital compositor
Kevan Shorey	....	matchmove artist: Double Negative
Thomas Urbye	....	online film editor
Paola Varvaro	....	digital artist
Steve Wagendorp	....	digital colorist
Aubrey Woodiwiss	....	digital clean-up

Stunts
Roly Jansen	....	stunt coordinator
Cordell McQueen	....	stunt coordinator
Janine Wyatt-Mair	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Jens Bacher	....	key grip: South Africa
Harmon Cusack	....	aerial camera operator: Wescam Camera
Richard Rolf	....	Steadicam operator
Adi Visser	....	first assistant camera
Oliver Ward	....	camera technician: Wescam camera

Casting Department
Russell Boast	....	casting coordinator
J.P. van der Merwe	....	extras casting agent

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Askia Won-Ling Jacob	....	costumer: Samuel L. Jackson (as Askia Jacob)
Widaad Williams	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Tim Caplan	....	digital intermediate producer
Simon Davis	....	assistant editor
Stuart Fyvie	....	digital colorist
Max Horton	....	digital film colourist
Kevin Phelan	....	head of post-production: Lip Sync Post
Jason Wheeler	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Philip King	....	music supervisor
Brian Masterson	....	music editor
Tina Moran	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
Ilze Kitshoff	....	driver: cast

Other crew
Chris Bohmenn	....	helicopter pilot
Emma Callinan	....	assistant to producer
Sandra Campbell	....	assistant: John Boorman
Carol A. Compton	....	script clearance
Chezlin Cross	....	assistant: Kevan Barker
Peter Doyle	....	on-set mechanic
Lori Imbler	....	assistant: Robert Chartoff (as Lori Imbler Vernon)
Natascha Leite	....	production coordinator
Aaron Merrell	....	production coordinator: Phoenix Pictures
Della Moore	....	production accountant
Spud Murray	....	animal wrangler
Louise Mycielski	....	production coordinator
Moroba Nkawe	....	assistant: Lynn Hendee
Bill Olmsted	....	helicopter pilot (as Bill Olmstead)
Morgan Pather	....	location manager
Peggy Plessas	....	assistant: Juliette Binoche (as Peggy Hall-Plessas)
John Rogers	....	set manager
Dezi Rorich	....	publicity manager
Pete Smith	....	key armorer
Leonard L. Thomas	....	assistant: Samuel L. Jackson (as Leonard Thomas)
Garin Van Munster	....	head animal wrangler
William Chartoff	....	assistant to producers (uncredited)
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Chartoff Productions
• Film Afrika Worldwide
• Film Consortium
• Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
• Merlin Films
• Phoenix Pictures
• Studio Eight Productions
• UK Film Council

Distributors

• Canal+ (2005) (France) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar (2005) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar (2005) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar (2005) (Norway) (theatrical)
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Filmhouse (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Icon Film Distribution (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Lucky Red (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2005) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2005) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (2005) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Ster-Kinekor Pictures (2005) (South Africa) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Double Negative (visual effects)
• Cine Image Film Opticals (digital titles) (digital effects) (opticals) (end titles)

Other Companies

• Fred Chandler Associates  opticals
• Airborne Camera Experts  helicopters
• Ardmore Sound  re-recorded at
• Ardmore Sound  sound post-production
• Bow Lane Studios  music recorded at
• Deluxe  prints
• Executive Helicopters  helicopters
• Film Afrika Worldwide  production services: South Africa
• Fred Chandler Associates  titles
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• IndieClear  script clearance
• Jason Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Lip Sync Post  35 mm digital intermediate
• Moving Picture Company (MPC)  digital film mastering
• Panavision Ireland  cameras and lenses
• Sapex Scripts  continuity script
• Windmill Lane Recording Studios  music recorded at

Also Known As:

Guilt, Sorrow, and the Limits of Forgiveness in the New South Africa (UK) (working title)
In My Country (USA)
Truth (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, including descriptions of atrocities, and for a scene of violence.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK | Ireland | South Africa

Language:

English | Afrikaans

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Brazil:16 | UK:15 | Mexico:B15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company:

Chartoff Productions

Quotes:

[first lines]
Nelson Mandela: Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The South Bank Show: John Boorman (#28.18)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Senzenina

Romantic Film Set In Turbulent Times

I am not a big fan of romances, but in this case I gave it a try because of director John Boorman ["Excalibur," "The Emerald Forest," "Hope & Glory, "Deliverance"] and actors Samuel L. Jackson ["Coach Carter," "Star Wars: Episodes 2 & 3," "The Red Violin"] and Juliette Binoche ["Chocolat," "The English Patient," and the 1992 remake of "Wuthering Heights"].

This film was in the better half of Boorman's, while Jackson and Binoche gave top-notch performances. The supporting role of Dumi, played by Menzi Ngubane was excellent, as he acted both as foil and antagonist between the couple.

I think the weakest elements of this film are in screenwriter Ann Peacock's dialogue and in the construction of the Anna Malan and brother Boetie characters. The first for taking on just a little too much burden of responsibility, especially in one somewhat uncharacteristic scene at one of the hearings with a particularly gory testimony, and the latter for being incomplete when a key development occurs that should have played more into the storyline and into Anna's reactions.

From what I've heard about the book by Antje Krog, I can understand why anyone who had read it before seeing this movie might be disappointed, but it was certainly clear to me by the marketing that this was a romance and not a cinematic litany of the horrors of Apartheid.

Given the turbulent background of Apartheid and the South African Truth & Reconciliation Commission proceedings, along with other clues, I was also expecting this to be an adversaries-fall-in-love story, which is the type of romance that I like the most. The collective incidents which drive Anna and Langston together are neither contrived or turgid, and fall comfortably in between, especially because they are juxtaposed with events based in reality. There is one most significant turn at one of the hearings, which, given it is true, would bring any two adversaries together, in peace if not in love.

I don't want to give away anything about the extent of their romance, except to say that how it ended up was a pleasant surprise and quite satisfactory. I wish I could recommend two other good romances that end so similarly and satisfactorily, but I would give away the surprise.

This film is certainly worth a rental or two, worth showing to friends, but I suppose the disturbing nature of the background events might keep some people from buying it for their home library, but if you bought a copy of "American History X," I think you might want to buy this one.