In My Country

In My Country was a great attempt. A misguided one, perhaps, but it was on the right track. It was as if a film student decided to tackle a subject that was just slightly beyond his grasp. And that is not to say that the director of In My Country, John Boorman is merely a film student. Boorman is an extremely accomplished and well respected film-maker with films such as Hope & Glory and Deliverance under his belt. But on this one, he just missed the mark.

Being a middle class white kid from the west coast of the US, South Africa was about the farthest place from my mind growing up. But as I grew older, I became increasingly aware of South Africa and its racially discriminatory apartheid laws, including the atrocities committed against thousands of black South Africans by the Afrikaners, white citizens of the country. For nearly 50 years, apartheid flourished, and the Afrikaners became more and more powerful, controlling around 80% of the land and national income, even though they only represented only 20% of the population.

In 1994, the apartheid regime was defeated, and the country began the slow process of healing by creating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The goal of the Commission was to hear the claims of the victims of apartheid, as well as giving the perpetrators a chance to apologize in order to receive amnesty. For Americans, it may be a difficult concept to understand, since it is somewhat contrary to our own beliefs. But in South Africa, the principal of Ubuntu dictates that "forgiveness and understanding are all things that are achievable if people sit down and listen to one another."

Langston Whitfield (Samuel L. Jackson) is an African American journalist from the Washington Post who is sent to South Africa to cover the hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He is one American who has a very difficult time understanding the concept of Ubuntu. It seems Langston has come to South Africa with his own preconceived notions about apartheid, without ever having confronted it first hand. He soon butts heads with an Afrikaner poet and journalist, Anna Malan who is covering the trials for South Africa radio and NPR in America. She has spent her entire life in South Africa, and as a white member of society has enjoyed the privileges which that entailed.

As the Commission travels around the country hearing more and more stories, Anna and Langston become increasingly closer after their auspicious beginnings. They both long to understand the complex history of the country, and how such lines could be drawn between people.

With a subject as heavy as this, John Boorman had a lot of weight on his shoulders. It seems as if he was trying

to cover too much ground, instead of focusing in on a small piece of the story. But this may be due to an overly-ambitious script, adapted by Ann Peacock. There are a myriad of unfinished thoughts, such as the love story between Langston and Anna which feels forced at best.

Beyond all its many faults, In My Country does have a few redeeming qualities. Binoche is beautiful and captivating as the Afrikaker poet, and she wears her soul on her sleeve. It is beautiful to witness. Jackson is solid in his role, and the juxtaposition between him and Binoche is wonderful and rich. Most importantly, the whole cast believes in the film. They have thrown themselves into the world of the film, and their dedication makes the film worth watching.

The film does not and cannot tell the whole story, but it is a noble effort, and worth watching simply to learn a bit of recent history. As a documentary, this piece succeeds with flying colors. As a character study, it's mostly black and white.

Movie Grade: B-