Breaker Morant

1980

1h 47m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

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1 Video

21 Images

Drama

History

War

During the Boer War, three Australian lieutenants are on trial for shooting Boer prisoners. Though they acted under orders, they are being used as scapegoats by the General Staff, who hopes to distance themselves from the irregular practices of the war. The trial does not progress as smoothly as expected by the General Staff, as the defence puts up a strong fight in the courtroom.

Directors

Bruce Beresford

Writers

Kenneth G. Ross(theatre play by)

Jonathan Hardy(screenplay by)

David Stevens(screenplay by)

Stars

Edward Woodward

Jack Thompson

John Waters

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Videos1

Trailer
Watch BREAKER MORANT Original Trailer [1980] 4K

Photos21

Top cast

Edward Woodward

Harry 'Breaker' Morant

Major J.F. Thomas

Cpt. Alfred Taylor

Lt. Peter Handcock

Lt. Col. Denny

Cpt. Simon Hunt

Col. Ian (Johnny) Hamilton

Sar. Maj. Drummond

Cpl. Sharp

Christiaan Botha

Lt. George Witton

Major Charles Bolton

Lord Kitchener

Cpt. Robertson

Cameron Sargeant

Reverend Hesse

Boer Leader

Dr. Johnson

Directors

Bruce Beresford

Writers

Kenneth G. Ross(theatre play by)

Jonathan Hardy(screenplay by)

David Stevens(screenplay by)

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7/10

Told by way of a court retrospective, this film depicts the brutalities of the Boer War between the British Colonial authorities and the immigrant Dutch farmers who just wanted to be left to govern themselves. Though largely suppressed by the overwhelming military force, the Boers did have success with guerrilla tactics that resulted in the pretty brutal skirmishes described here. A court martial has been constituted to investigate the activities of three Australian solders and to basically scapegoat them. Only the legal skills of the inexperienced lawyer "Maj. Thomas" (Jack Thompson) can hope to prevent the three from going to the gallows. What soon becomes clear is that the soldiers lead by "Morant" (Edward Woodward) were certainly no saints, and that the ghastliness of this war is writ pretty largely, but what it also identifies is the complicity of their otherwise "civilised" officers. It's got a solid cast, the dialogue is gritty and plausible, the cinematography presents us with the grand scale of the South African countryside and of the often rather subsistence existence of farmers and soldiers alike, and as the momentum builds, Australian director Bruce Beresford manages to sustain a fair degree of interest in the future of the accused and take quite a swipe at the colonial mentalities that prevailed at the time (and not just the British ones) too. Well worth a watch.

Geronimo196707 Jun, 2023