

The time is the late '80s, a crucial period in the history of South Africa. President P.W. Botha is hanging on to power by a thread as the African National Congress (ANC) takes up arms against apartheid and the country tumbles toward insurrection. A British mining concern is convinced that their interests would be better served in a stable South Africa and they quietly dispatch Michael Young, their head of public affairs, to open an unofficial dialogue between the bitter rivals. Assembling a reluctant yet brilliant team to pave the way to reconciliation by confronting obstacles that initially seem insurmountable, Young places his trust in ANC leader Thabo Mbeki and Afrikaner philosophy professor Willie Esterhuyse. It is their empathy that will ultimately serve as the catalyst for change by proving more powerful than the terrorist bombs that threaten to disrupt the peaceful dialogue.
Ratings
3.5
Cast

William Hurt
Professor Will Esterhuyse

Chiwetel Ejiofor
President Thabo Mbeki

Jonny Lee Miller
Michael Young

Mark Strong
Dr. Niel Barnard

Clarke Peters
Nelson Mandela

John Kani
Oliver Tambo

Derek Jacobi
Rudolph Agnew

Timothy West
P.W. Botha

Matthew Marsh
F.W. de Klerk

Michael Huff
Willem de Klerk

Stephen Jennings
Kobie Coetsee

Patrick Lyster
Sampie Terreblanche

Ramon Tikaram
Aziz Pahad

Danny Scheinmann
Albie Sachs
Porteus Xandau
Christo Brand

Amelia Bullmore
Gill
David Henry
Professor Marinus Wiechers

Trevor Sellers
Tony Trew

Moshidi Motshegwa
Sebolela

Bo Petersen
Esterhuyse's Wife
Gabi Scheibert
Esterhuyse's Daughter

Thomas Lockyer
Anthony Sampson

Langley Kirkwood
Anthony Sampson
Jacques Strydom
Roadblock Policeman
Faith Ndukwana
Winnie Mandela

Faniswa Yisa
Woman Pick-up Driver

Tshamano Sebe
Black Drinker
Marko van der Colff
Bizos
Unathi Dyantyi
Youth #1 Hate
Vicky Davis
White Newscaster

Batsile Ramasodi
Zambian Newscaster

Jonathan Dimbleby
English Newscaster
Violet Gonda
Zimbabwean Newscaster
Robert Timothy
South African Newscaster
Kas Graham
Protestor (uncredited)
Chumani Pan
Youth #1 - Shabeen (uncredited)

Grant Swanby
President's Agent Botha (uncredited)

David Tennant
Self - Host (uncredited)

Lizanne Tulip
High Profile Banker (uncredited)

Karl Thaning
F.W. de Klerk's Agent (uncredited)
Crew
Executive Producer
Director
Writer
Producer
Makeup Artist
First Assistant Director
Production Design
Line Producer
Original Music Composer
Hair Designer
Makeup & Hair
Third Assistant Director
Set Decoration
Costume Design
Art Direction
Production Manager
Art Department Coordinator
Post Production Supervisor
Unit Manager
Makeup Designer
Second Assistant Director
Director of Photography
Construction Manager
Set Dresser
Scenic Artist
Audio Post Coordinator
Graphic Designer
Camera Trainee
Casting Assistant
Post Production Coordinator
ADR Recordist
Construction Coordinator
Dialogue Editor
Storyboard Artist
Stunt Driver
Second Unit Director of Photography
Costume Supervisor
Digital Intermediate Data Wrangler
Digital Color Timer
Location Manager
Sound Mixer
Visual Effects Director
First Assistant Camera
Best Boy Grip
Clapper Loader
Visual Effects Producer
Standby Art Director
Key Grip
Sound Effects Editor
Additional Photography
Special Effects Technician
Pyrotechnician
Assistant Costume Designer
Location Scout
Assistant Set Decoration
Foley Artist
Compositor
Digital Intermediate Producer
Script Supervisor
Additional Music
Researcher
Chef
Still Photographer
Additional Second Assistant Camera
Production Coordinator
Publicist
Assistant Location Manager
Production Secretary
Dialect Coach
Aerial Coordinator
Production Supervisor
Novel
Armorer
Details
Release Date
2009-01-18
Runtime
109 min
Original Language
English
Languages
Afrikaans
English
Xhosa
Production Companies
Film Afrika
Countries
United Kingdom
Genres
Crime
Drama