Apartheid. A policy invented to segregate / discriminate based on race or colour. The institutionalization of racial discrimination. South Africa. The place of origin of apartheid. 1987. The peak of apartheid with growing national and international condemnation to the most inhuman practice.
A 19 year old white prison guard suddenly opens a hail of bullets and mercilessly guns down seven unarmed black prisoners. An open and shut case against the guard citing act of apartheid. Lawyer John Weber (played brilliantly by Steve Coogan) unwillingly takes up the case knowing his bleak chance to win this case. Gradually he discovers the traumatic conditions in which the guard had to work in the prison. At 19, the very young assisted in 162 executions in South African prisons. His work would make him befriend the prisoners and get friendly only to heartlessly execute them. John, a passionate advocate against death penalty argues that it was the psychological impact of the executions that drove the young guard to mercilessly murder the prisoners. The question: How can a person be a friend and executioner at the same time? The movie puts death penalty in the spotlight. The judgment creates history.
The movie, inspired by true events is an adaption of the maiden novel of the same name written by Chris Marnewick, a former South African High Court barrister and Judge.
