After the Rain

 

After the Rain 1999

Director: Ross Kettle

• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Ariyon Bakare, Paul Bettany, Louise Lombard
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Paul Bettany – many.
• Ariyon Bakare – Life, Doctor Who, Jupiter Ascending, Dancing on the Edge
• Louise Lombard – Grim, Hidalgo
• Why? The subject
• Seen: 4 October 2023  

          Apartheid, South Africa, the 80s. Stephanus (Bettany) is an Afrikaaner soldier who was raised to defend ‘us’ from ‘them, to hate and despise ‘them.’ His girlfriend Emma (Lombard) is a dancer, who, when Steph is on a three-month mission defending the apartheid from black rebels, befriends the light man at the theatre, Vusi (Bakare). Friendship between whites and blacks is dangerous.

       Steph starts to hate the killing and see the rebels as humans. He deserts and heads home.

       Good acting and a complex triangle in a volatile racist society make this a strong and important film.

 4½ * of 5