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While opening with beautiful shots of
open South African countryside, "In
My Country" doesn't take long to
deliver darkness. Soon after the end
of Apartheid, general reconciliation
is sought by the new South African government.
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In
stark contrast to what modern Americans
view as justice and accountability,
perpetrators of the most demoralizing
crimes were given amnesty by way of
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
a process where survivors and family
members of the tortured and murdered
were allowed to publicly face their
former oppressors. The oppressors, in
turn, were given the chance to confess
that they might be forgiven.
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Sent
to cover these events for the Washington
Post is Langston Whitfield (Samuel L.
Jackson) a Black American who has reservations
about the Commission from the onset.
He is skeptical of the validity of the
hearings; that justice is not being
served.
Opposite Whitfield is Afrikaans poet
Anna Malan (Juliette Binoche), who is
covering the hearings for radio.
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The
two inevitably meet and try to plead
their opposing views at one another.
Separated from their families in many
ways, the two eventually find comfort
in each other's arms, despite the slow
pace of their own personal reconciliations.
The story of these two individuals is
clearly a vehicle to tell the story
of recent South African history. Although
the love aspect of the plot is a little
weak, it becomes blatantly necessary
in order to hold together multiple directions
of poetic justice and resolution.
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Samuel
L. Jackson, who has been in over twenty
films in the last five years, is no
stranger to small projects and independent
films. I found the prospect of him in
a slightly romantic and dynamic role
a breath of fresh air. Perhaps he needed
an escape from the type-casting clutches
of mainstream Hollywood.
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Julette
Binoche is charming as the white woman
who, while in love with her native country,
is at odds with its past and with her
family. She plays well the role of one
who is strong in her convictions yet
so willing to take on life-and-mind-changing
challenges. I felt sorry for her that
most of her lines were on the defensive.
Going head-to-head with a presence like
Jackson must be a challenge in its own,
and Binoche seemed at home with the
role.
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A
film so steeped in horrific imagery
and pain demands a little comic relief.
Dumi Mkhalipi (Menzi Ngubane) plays
the role of a cheerful assistant and
friend of both Whitfield and Malan.
He does a great job playing the difficult
role of a man far from the spotlight
while being so integral to the plot.
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Based
on the book "Country of My Skull"
by Antjie Krog, "In My Country"
unfolds much like a linear book, telling
its story one day at a time with a conclusion
conveniently timed and executed. In
many ways the character of this film
is similar to a mystery novel or film
noir classic; that is, just about
everything said has a direct purpose
or has a hidden meaning to be discovered.
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The
good imagery, imagination and history
used throughout "In My Country"
make it one of the hidden gems of recent
years.
Photo
by Sony Pictures Classics
-K. Tanaka
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