What a waste of my time!!!

An action-packed slog

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Disclaimer – I lived in South Africa from 1977 to 1980 and working as a Professor in Johannesburg I came up against the problems of Apartheid many times. Because I was involved in some activities that might be considered seditious (admitting the first Blacks to post-graduate training, working as the only white Clinical Psychologist in an all- Black psychiatric hospital, working to create a rapprochement between isangomas in sub Saharan Africa) I also came into contact with the authorities, although not as badly as the central character. I did, however, spend 17 days in an African prisoner of war camp in Zambia, where the torture and interrogation techniques were not dis-similar).The film gives an accurate portrayal of the schisms in South Africa during the end of the Apartheid era – between Afrikaneers and English whites and between Blacks and whites, and even within these groups. Nigel Hawthorne (who was born in South Africa) gives a bravura performance as the Colonel in charge of interrogation. This ranks right up there with his work in "The Madness of King George" (1996).Eric Stoltz doesn't really show the conflicts that many liberal whites showed, so one has to wait for his sessions with Hawthorne for the action to heat up.The scenes between Hawthorne and Lou Gossett are equally notable.Arthur Penn directs, this his last film. Penn is famous for such films as Bonnie and Clyde (1967), "The Miracle Worker" (1962), and "Little Big Man" (1970). The current film shows his heritage from his work on Playhouse 90 which this film more represents that the wide screen films he is famous for.

Have just finished watching this film, which upset me greatly. Have also been to South Africa twice, around the time this film is set.It is certainly hard-hitting, and the opening scenes tend to 'set the scene'. The slow but steady increase of pace hardly allows a break, and there are certainly few light moments.Will never be able to view Nigel Hawthorne the same again. He came across as a very twisted individual, and I found myself disliking him more each time he appeared.Totally agree with Steve-thomp's articulate and well thought-out comments.

I saw this film the other night, together with another film about the Apartheid in South Africa, A DRY WHITE SEASON, and this was by far the weakest of the two. The other one is not a masterpiece either, but at least you get to know more about the issue than in this film.Here, we have 90 minutes of people being tortured by a sadistic colonel(Nigel Hawthorne), with no real depth to it. It's all presented in a rather cold fashion too. The actors are good however and this is not a really bad film, it's just that if you want to see a film about this subject, you better watch A DRY WHITE SEASON. 5/10

I saw this movie very late one night, while channel surfing just before I hit the sack. I spotted Eric Stoltz, and decided to watch for a little while, as I think he's a very talented actor. I got drawn into the movie completely, and it made an impression on me. The story concerns Martin Strydom, a white man living in south africa, arrested for collaboration with anti-apartheid terrorists. It is told as a series of flashbacks, as the prison warden who held him is being investigated, many years later, by Louis Gosset Junior. From the first day, Martin is put through a brutal campaign of psychological torture, instigated by the warden, who lies to him to make him believe that all of his friends and family have disowned him. I wont give any of the plot twists away (there are a few) but I will say, go and watch it. Its not funny, its not action packed, but it is a good movie