In My Country

Starring:Samuel L. Jackson, Juliette Binoche, Brendan Gleeson, Menzi Ngubane, Sam Ngakane, Aletta Bezuidenhout, Lionel Newton, Langley Kirkwood, Owen Sejake, Harriet Lenabe, Louis Van Niekerk, Jeremiah Ndlovu, Fiona Ramsey, Dan Robbertse, Robert Hobbs (II), Lwando Nondzaba, Trix Pienaar, Greg Latter, Albert Maritz, Sizwe Msutu
Director: John Boorman
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Released in the wake of Hotel Rwanda, In My Country tackles another grim chapter in African history. Set during South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the film is adapted from Antjie Krog's Country of My Skull. Oscar-winner Juliette Binoche (The English Patient) is Anna, an Africaans poet and broadcaster, and Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction) is Langston, a Chicago reporter. The two meet during the hearings and take an instant dislike to each other. In due time, however, they come to an understanding and embark on a tentative affair, despite Anna's faith in the hearings and Langston's doubts. John Boorman, whose previous features were the underrated Beyond Rangoon and The Tailor of Panama, coaxes sensitive performances from his leads and sheds welcome light on an important event, but In My Country never catches fire. Boorman regular Brendan Gleeson (The General), however, makes a memorable appearance as a sadistic police chief. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

Justice and Forgiveness: Well-Intentioned, But Too Melodramatic.......2007-06-16

"In My Country" (also known as "Country of My Skull") stars Juliette Binoche and Samuel L. Jackson based on Antjie Krog's novel. Binoche is Anna, Afrikaner poet and radio broadcaster while Jackson is Langston, sent from a Chicago newspaper. They both report the hearings of TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) in South Africa, where people gave their testimonies about the violence and abuses during Apartheid. Langston is also given a chance to interview a notorious police head De Jager (Brendan Gleeson), who knows what really happened to some of the victims.

But somehow director John Boorman thought it necessary to follow another story about Anna (who is married) and Langston who develop instant dislike to each other, then come to be romantically attracted. Except the fine acting from the two, their romantic story does not offer much partly because the film refuses to develop it, but the main reason is I think Boorman crammed too many things into the plot - most notably Anna's parents' story and Anna's brother's one, both of which should be left in cutting room. And the film tells us the story of De Jager and a little girl, which needs more time and more detailed storytelling.

[UBUNTU] As far as TRC section is concerned, the film is great. The testimonies are not only heart-rending but multi-layered because both sides must be present at the hearings. The film also has one great message based on a traditional idea called Ubuntu, humanist concept about the relations between humans.

But I still cannot see why Ubuntu should be told with the melodramatic story Anna and Langston. Philip Noyce's "Catch a Fire" (which is also set in South Africa) has certainly love affair in its plot, but it never occupied the central stage. "In My Country" is certainly made with good intention and has insightful moments about sins and forgiveness, but overall they are overshadowed by something else that should be told elsewhere.

Profoundly Uninspiring.......2007-06-02

I find it impossible to imagine how such an important and inspiring series of historical events could have been reduced to two hours of bland dialogue and disjointed subplots (including a painfully comical love story). I want a refund.

Flirts with Genius, but falls short.......2007-05-18

There are a lot of great movies about the South African struggle. I've seen "Gandhi" several times. I loved "The Power of one" and "Cry Freedom". But I suspect I'm not the only one who sees a video about Apartheid in the video store and thinks: Do I really feel like being preached to tonight? I mean I already get it, Apartheid is bad.

The good news about this film is that, in comparison to the other Apartheid films I've seen, it offers a fresh take. It takes during the Truth and Reconciliation commission hearings after the fall of Apartheid in 1994. During these hearings anyone who had committed atrocities during the apartheid era could make a full confession recieve amnesty provided they had only been following orders.

As such, the film offers a whole new set of issues to explore. Not simply "Let's all agree on how awful apartheid is", but also what is the best way for a society to move forward after the nightmare is over? What is more important for society, justice or reconciliation?

The bad news is that the film never manages to rise to the bar it has set for itself. As is often the case with these historical films, the fictional characters and story the film makers have created don't do justice to the real history. We get a glimpse of the complexity of issues under discussion at these hearings, but then the story veers away to the personal lives of white South African Anna Malan (Juliette Binoche) and cynical American journalistLangston Whitfield ( Samuel L. Jackson) and the unlikely Romance that develops between them. This would have been a much better movie if it had stayed more focused on the actual historical events, and skipped the hollywood love story.

It's not a bad movie, but it's one of those movies that flirts with genius, and then drops the ball, and you feel the disappointment bitterly. It is apparently based on a non-fiction book, "The Country of my Skull" which is supposed to be much better.

hollywood, ideology and reality.......2006-11-26

OK, its a 3 star movie... but the issues raised as the reasons for a poor rating strike me as people who misunderstand the reality of South Africa. Having lived in SA both during the apartheid era, as well as during the TRC period, I have to beg to differ with some of the other reviewers.

1. the affair -- just follow the psychological distancing of Anna from her husband and her white liberal Afrikaner lifestyle, as she enters into the story of the real South Africa. The pyscho-social encounter of the real TRC hearings is beyond the capacity of a re-creation to convey. She bonded with someone who was with her in the moment, then realized it was a mistake. [besides the fact that affairs and other social aberrations were so common in the white community under the guise of the respectable Nationalist years]
2. how could Anna not really know what was going on? it's called compartmentalizing. you sense, out of the corner of your eye, but you don't want to admit that it could be true, so you repress. Especially when admitting to the truth would mean the end of life as you know it. We all do it, in various ways. Binoche's overdoing the breakdown scene in the hearing was poor, granted. But did those destabilizing occurrences happen at the TRC hearings, amongst the regular participants (journalists, commissioners, support staff)? yes...
3. how can Hollywood really portray the idea of forgiveness, amnesty, ubuntu -- its all a bit sappy, and ideological sounding, until you actually try to do it as a nation. has it all turned out to be a happy ending? no. but it had to be tried, otherwise there is no reason to hope for something better. (hence her brother's suicide)

for me the film gave a little glimpse of some human beings interacting with the notion of the TRC and the South African context. thanks John Boorman.

John Boorman Misfires With A Heavy-Handed And Obvious Apartheid Drama.......2006-11-09

"In My Country" is certainly a well meaning film. Filled with dignity, it means to explore the atrocities committed in the age of Apartheid. Can justice be served? Can South Africa move on? How complicit is the average man? There are certainly important topics and issues to be dealt with--but rarely have I seen them served up so falsely and dispassionately.

Everything in "In My Country" is a construct. You've got Juliette Binoche as the face of white shame, Samuel L. Jackson as black rage (though he's an American), Brendan Gleeson as the villain, Binoche's assistant as the tolerant and understanding African, and her boss as the face of white indifference. Of course, this story is told from the vantage point of the white lady and the American--as these stories rarely examine issues from the African viewpoint. Even the testimony of atrocities--which should be a dramatic highpoint--are so staged, so false with the requisite swoons from the audience at "shocking" revelations. And Binoche is ever present to provide the tears--but as the emotion isn't genuinely developed, I continued to sit there feeling rather empty at the whole exercise. The Africans are never portrayed as significant indivduals, but as understanding and forgiving souls. I'd have appreciated a bit of emotional complexity at any point!

If the pairing of Juliette Binoche and Samuel L. Jackson seems an odd match, trust me--it is. As characters with opposing views, they are put together rather conveniently. No actual friendship is ever developed, we're just supposed to take it at face value that these two would hang out together. Well, I didn't believe it for a second. It was necessary for the plot, so it happened--why bother with actual character development? There's a more important message to be delivered by having them debate.

Of course, to make matters worse--a romantic entanglement evolves. There's not much drama there, either, as Binoche seemingly has an indifference to her husband and children. If she's conflicted about anything, it certainly never shows. And as if matters aren't bad enough, there's a heavy-handed (and obvious) ending that is supposed to be a revelatory twist. But I can only say it once more, without bothering to make the characters real--who cares?

A message can only take you so far. I'd have rather have watched a relevant speech, because no one here was concerned with drama. KGHarris, 11/06.

There Goes My Everything: In Concert (W/CD)

Average customer rating:

There Goes My Everything: In Concert (W/CD)
Starring: Charley Pride
Manufacturer: Unlimited Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Country | Styles | Music

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Charlie Rose with Ken Auletta; Lorin Maazel; Juliette Binoche (February 28, 2005)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Ken Auletta; Lorin Maazel; Juliette Binoche (February 28, 2005)

Manufacturer: "Charlie Rose, Inc."
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Charlie talks to Ken Auletta of The New Yorker about the ouster of Dan Rather from CBS News and the controversy that continues to surround his reporting on the President's National Guard service. Then, Charlie talks to famed conductor Lorin Maazel on the occasion of his 75th birthday which will see him conducting several of his own compositions with the New York Philharmonic. Then, actor Juliette Binoche talks about her new film, In My Country, which chronicles the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.

Average customer rating:

Mike V! The one that runs through the graveyard!
Drive is probably the heart of all skate videos.
amazing skating, great music, and a good guy
Essence of the idea.
Not so much skate...BUT Excellent !!!

Drive - My Life in Skateboarding
Starring: Mike Vallely
Director: Mark Jeremias
Manufacturer: White Knuckle Xtreme
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Skateboarding | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Drive - Notes From the Wilderness
Dogtown and Z-Boys (Deluxe Edition)

ASIN: B00007L4NJ
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Amazon.com

If skateboarding has its St. Paul, then that brittle apostle may very well be Mike Vallely. Intense, serious, purposeful to a fault, Vallely took to the (still vaguely disreputable) sport in the early 1980s and found not just a hobby but a ticket to personal expression bordering on the mystic. Instantly embraced by the then-reigning champions of skateboarding (e.g., Lance Mountain), Vallely became legendary for the intuitive brilliance of his movements and stunts. This 55-minute documentary finds him still in great form and inspired by an alternative vision of the world as a miracle of potential: walls, sidewalks, and benches awaiting the brushstroke of his motion. Like Paul, Vallely has loads to say (in an unnervingly repressed voice) wherever he goes; here he picks up converts in Russia, Alaska, and Finland. Vallely may never be an ambassador of cheer, but he has the soul of an artist and prophet. --Tom Keogh

Description

Mike Valley's three decade commitment to skateboarding gives him a unique perspective and insight into the sport's past, present and future. One of the hardest working pro skaters out there, Mike participates in contests and demos worldwide, designs and endorses product for leading companies, and still stays in touch with his roots and takes time on the road to reach out to young people, the foundation of skateboarding. A star of "Tony Hawk Gigantic Skatepark Tour 2001-2002" (televised on ESPN and ESPN 2), featured athlete in "King of Skate" Pay Per View on IN Demand, guest star on "Tony Hawk Trick Tips," and a hidden character in "Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4," Mike has made multiple X Games appearances and spotlighted endorsements from top brands including Etnies, Oakley, Hurley Fender and Met Rx. His story centers on a cross-country road trip exploring Mike's views on the current state of the skateboard world, with reflections on what's really important to Mike and why he skates, why he fights to keep his place in skating, and why he fights for skateboarding.

Customer Reviews:

Mike V! The one that runs through the graveyard!.......2005-09-30

This movie defines skating. By who else than Mike (the veteran) Vallely. Im sittin there watching this movie and watching Mike skating spots that aren't that great but im also remembering doing that for years and literally skating a mere bank or parking block for hours on end. Then coming home sweaty or frost bitten (Illinois) and watching skate vids and reading Thrasher or Transworld. I was just so caught up in it that I breathed skating. I must say I kind of lost that motivation somewhere down the line but ive always had a board in case of situations like this. I just got this dvd way late but I gotta say I could use the word "beautiful" to describe it.
The soundtrack, meshes with the skating, which in turn gives a total visual of the message Mikes getting across Which in turn, makes ME wanna go skate.

Drive is probably the heart of all skate videos........2005-09-08

Drive is probably the heart of all skate videos. It explains the true meaning of skateboarding in a way that anyone could understand.

Drive is the story of Mike Vallely, who in my opinion is the most original skaters on the scene today. He has his own style and his own values about skateboarding. Values that you don't usually hear in skate videos or see on TV. The parks that are hit up in the video aren't always the big mainstream ones you see in other videos. Mike rides just about everything from parking lots to random spots of pavement, yet somehow he manages to make everything look impressive. Every trick is executed with his unique style of street. His tricks are technical and old school at the same time. Some of the moves I've seen him do I can't even name.

When I first watched this video it really touched me. The way he was visiting fans and giving them his insights on the sport and actually skating the streets these kids skated on every day. Its not every day you see a professional athlete go out of his way and take time off of his career to see his fans and just make a video that makes as much sense as this. "Once you've been moved, once you've been inspired how can you not want to get out there and share it with the world." Near the end of the video Mike is sitting outside the house he grew and talks about why he's in the sport and why he loves it so much.

To sum things up this is a great buy. I only actually own 3 skate videos and this is by far the most valuable. Every time a watch it I just want to hit the streets with my board hard. If you are just getting into the skate scene or have been skating for a long time this video is a must have.

amazing skating, great music, and a good guy.......2004-09-02

Drive is not only a demonstration of the incredible skating skills of Mike Vallely but an introduction to him as a person. He is a true individual who isn't afraid to speak his mind and be his own person. He refuses to cater to any ideals outside his own. He also comes across as a genuinely nice guy who wants to help others and spread a positive message. He is the real deal and in this video he shows what skating is all about.

Essence of the idea........2004-04-30

Amazing. Absolutely brilliant.

Mike understands the core. He understands what the skate culture IS, and what I hope the culture never looses. Powerful film, and without a doubt, a powerful skateboarder.

Not so much skate...BUT Excellent !!!.......2003-12-05

Very good, if you are skater; have to see...Mike V. proves a human with good perspective of life and for the messages in this DVD values a lot!

In the Service of My Country / Rodina Zhdiot (2003)

Average customer rating:

In the Service of My Country / Rodina Zhdiot (2003)

Manufacturer: CP Digital
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0002FGTWG

Product Description

LANGUAGE (AUDIO): RUSSIAN ONLY; SUBTITLES: ENGLISH Action, Russia, 2003, 312 min. Format: Full screen, 4:3. /In the Service of My Country/ had been filmed in Tashkent, Bukhara, Prague and Moscow. Sequel began shooting in January. An undercover Russian secret agent Victor Bystrolyotov (code name /Hawk/) (Valeri Nikolayev), posing as a journalist, arrives in Near-Eastern country in order to infiltrate a terrorist Organization and stop the terrorists' mad plan to blow up several European capitals. But fist he must find ex-terrorist Djavad wanted by Interpol and killers from Organization. Bystrolyotov works with his friends from SVR (Foreign Intelligence Service): Kavchugin brothers (Vladimir Turchinsky and Dmitri Dyuzhev), computer genius Leonid Marshansky (Pavel Derevyanko) and ethnographer Rita Novosyolova (Mariya Kivva). This operation is under control of experienced intelligence officer Vladimir Rokotov (Yuri Solomin) who treats Bystrolyotov like his son. Directed by Oleg Pogodin. Cast: Valeri Nikolayev (U Turn, 1997), Yuri Solomin (Dersu Uzala, 1975), Dmitri Dyuzhev, Mariya Kivva, Vladimir Turchinsky, Pavel Derevyanko, Lev Prygunov, Vasili Mishchenko, Sergei Nikonenko, Igor Livanov.

Average customer rating:

Justice and Forgiveness: Well-Intentioned, But Too Melodramatic
Profoundly Uninspiring
Flirts with Genius, but falls short
hollywood, ideology and reality
John Boorman Misfires With A Heavy-Handed And Obvious Apartheid Drama

In My Country
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson , Juliette Binoche , Brendan Gleeson , Menzi Ngubane , and Sam Ngakane
Director: John Boorman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Constant Gardener (Widescreen Edition)
Red Dust
Country of My Skull: Guilt, Sorrow, and the Limits of Forgiveness in the New South Africa
Cry Freedom
Cry, The Beloved Country

ASIN: B00005JNQ7

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Justice and Forgiveness: Well-Intentioned, But Too Melodramatic.......2007-06-16

Profoundly Uninspiring.......2007-06-02

Flirts with Genius, but falls short.......2007-05-18

hollywood, ideology and reality.......2006-11-26

John Boorman Misfires With A Heavy-Handed And Obvious Apartheid Drama.......2006-11-09

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