Shepherds and Butchers

If you like in court movies, with cases that are inevitable to make one and only one outcome, and magic happens ,then watch this movie.

its a heartwrenching, heartbreaking, flawlessly acted movie at all points and all areas.. its so well made that it made me feel sick at times.

the grumpy old man can just recommend

This beautifully filmed drama, set in apartheid era South Africa manages to be at once brutal and sensitive. Steve Coogan and Andrea Riseborough face each other in the trial of a psychologically broken prison guard, accused of a multiple murder. Graphic and harrowing at times, delicately picking an unconventional course to its conclusion. Effectively a period piece, convincingly set in 1980's Pretoria, filmed in Cape Town in pleasing detail. Centred in the courtroom, but repeatedly flashing back to the accused's past as a prison guard on death row and following Coogan's progress through the trial in his defence. The prison and execution scenes play out in sickening detail, with a host of convincing supporting actors. The courtroom too has several well observed characters, from the judge to the bereaved relatives. The accused guard is well played; too, too young, and a mental and emotional shell of a man, opening up painfully slowly during the piece. Coogan though is the star; at first reluctant, then intrigued and finally quite determined as the defence counsel. The camera holds him close in this very convincing portrayal. The whole film is beautiful, cleverly lit and stylish, with great attention to all the details of the time and the place. The Afrikaaner Warrant Officer quietly chilling, the courtroom relatives, glorious. A genuinely emotional and thought provoking film, touching on several aspects of the capital punishment debate. It alternately brought to mind Oscar Pistorius' trial and Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit'. Be prepared for mixed feelings at the end!

Very similar to his work on Philomena. A brilliant narrative investigating a mass shooting and the tortured soul on trial. Much more that a legal drama. Its a dark journey into a barbaric (and hopefully much remedied) prison system in South Africa.

Steve Coogan has carved himself a specialty with these films. He brings intensity and brilliant deduction into this character and his scenes.

Also of note is that this appears to be from first time writer and a first time director. Very pleasant surprise that they are so good at delivering a moving subject in their first venture to attract the talented Mr. Coogan.

The young murderer is also very well cast and I can expect other large roles in his future.

This is very moral based and has a purpose. So if you don't like a movie to hammer something into you, this may not be a movie for you to watch. Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot of tension and edge of your seat kind of stuff going on. Not to mention violence and drama about people who try living their lives, but have a lot of baggage.

The psyche of people who have a tough job is really fragile. So when at the end you get the and this happened shortly after in real life, you probably should not be too surprised. And you probably won't be too surprised about the outcome of the movie anyway. The acting is good, the direction is good and if you don't mind court dramas with moral flavour, you could do worse

An extremely disturbing film, especially being based on truth. It raises several questions regarding the death penalty, and illustrates how apartheid South Africa affects not only the oppressed, but also he perpetrator.

Steve Coogan gave a great performance, but for me young Garion Dowds gave an engaging and moving performance that stole the show.

What was interesting was the layering of emotions, and the psychological portrayal of what happens to ordinary people subjected to a continual barrage of negativity (in this case hanging & the death penalty), and how this leads to emotional numbing & blunting.

A great if somewhat unsettling watch.