Windprints (1989) User Reviews

an excellent "picture" window on apartheid

[JJCA · 7/10 · 27 March 2003]

This moody, mystery (of a sort) is a real gem. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and my only complaint is that it ended too quickly! Sean Bean has an amazing facility with accents and demonstrates his wonderful acting ability in the von heerdon character - showing the embarrasment,anger and angst that an elightened afrikaaner feels about the apartheid-bound stupidities in his world. John Hurt also does a good job with the older journalist who condemns but in effect condones because he wont question the system. All this is wrapped up in the search for a killer - a killer that becomes more to von heerden than a story. Without giving anything away, the end of the movie, while totally predictable, is so angst-filled that i ended up crying for von heerden. Oh, and catch the music at the end of the film - great stuff!

Delicate film about a strong subject with a brilliant actor

[moviefarie · 10/10 · 10 August 2004]

Instead of hitting one over the head with this film, this movie allows you to feel a period in South Africa through the actor and the actual country. It is a careful and slow paced film about the problems of South Africa during a specific period of time. Fortunately, some of those problems have been resolved, but the power of this film is that it was filmed in the country of origin. You can be moved by the atmosphere, the surroundings, and the plot which does keep one guessing for quite a while. Sean Bean is stunning both physically, and as ALWAYS perfection acting-wise, as the central character in this film. His stillness and emotional range at the same time will transfix you to stay on board throughout the film. You keep wondering if he will make, or if the other central character will make it, but this film does not charge at you and beat you over the head with the message. The message is the film, and it is delivered by a seamless craftsman, Sean Bean, and an elder statesman of film, John Hurt. Not to be missed.

What a film (good)

[Lanraso · 1 August 2004]

With great actors such as Sean Bean and John Hurt this is really an amazing movie with great cinematography and a larger than life type story that is both bright and well written.

On the acting side Bean did his do's and is more believable than most actors acting Afrikaners in almost every movie, (ahooy Mr Shucks) Windprints was a brilliant piece to watch and it is kind of sad that it was banned in its country of origin, South-Africa. But hell if you really want to watch it, pay a visit to the South-African film Archive in Pretoria. That is the only facility with a copy.

Undiscovered Gem

[questinv · 9/10 · 26 January 2008]

This is early Sean Bean and Prime John Hurt. The Photography and Direction are very reminiscent of Michelangelo Antonionini, but not as "out there". The similarity was clearest in the use of silence, particularly during grand, panoramas of windswept desolation. Whether in the American deserts or London parks, Antonionini gave us a sense of presence which is seldom found. He had us sitting, and viewing, and listening. Here, we also hear the wind and watch the dust devils forming and moving in their dance. We feel.

This seemed to be an intimate "behind the scenes" look at Africa during Apartheid, with the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Many cultural beliefs and daily lifestyles shown in an extremely believable manner. I'm not sure how, but I felt that I was there.

There was a simple plot, but with enough twists to maintain interest. Without a needlessly complex web, the focus was on authentically portrayed lifestyles and location. One could felt the heat, the dust and the people. I could easily picture several of my African friends in the scenes. This was an undiscovered gem.

Beautifully done!

[Ann-24 · 9/10 · 5 March 1999]

This movie was beautifully done. Although it is paced slowly, the suspense kept me glued to the screen. The ending was a bit too abrupt, however.

Great underrated film.

[davidfstephan · 9/10 · 27 December 2010]

Superbly acted drama that captures the racial tensions of South Africa. Bean, aside from his dodgy blonde mullet, is brilliant as the supremely talented John Hurt. It also works as a travelogue and some of the camera work is spellbinding. The supporting cast is also very strong and the script strikes a nice balance between showing sympathy and the reality of situation of both parties. Bean handles the South African accent superbly and shows great sensitivity. I won't spoil the ending for those who haven't watched it yet but it is worth the wait.One of those movies that slipped under the radar. Like a fine wine it looks even better with 20 years of maturing under it's belt.

Hollywood needs to take a lesson

[Homer900 · 8/10 · 27 December 2007]

On how to make a good film. This was shot on location, the locals giving it an authenticity that few films, at least those out of Hollywood, can achieve anymore. Sean Bean played his character brilliantly, no histrionics, no speeches, just real life, at least a facsimile of it, captured on film and through the seamless acting of Bean and John Hurt. An excellent murder mystery wrapped up in the politics of an apartheid South Africa. POSSIBLE SPOILER: The actions of the SA police officer tracking the killer and the white farmer seemed, at times, intertwined and almost conspiratorial. The plot unfolded slowly, giving us potential setups for targets for the killer, that were not taken. In the end, it's revealed, maybe, why he was killing. I am lucky I caught it on Movieplex this evening, otherwise I would have missed a true gem.

An Intriguing Story

[Rainey-Dawn · 8/10 · 18 April 2022]

Nhadiep is a Namibian who is killing his own people; namely farm labourers. The Namibian peoples believe him to be a mythical man - who is like the wind.

Anton van Heerden (Sean Bean), a news cameraman, is sent to work with veteran news journalist, Charles Rutherford (John Hurt). Charles is making an in-depth news story about this strange and illusive renegade Nhadiep. Anton becomes fascinated with the story and gets deeply involved in finding out more of Nhadiep.

Is Nhadiep real or a phantom killer? Will the authorities ever catch this serial killer?

An intriguing story that I found myself drawn into. Worth a watch if you ever come across this rare film.

8/10.