Shepherds and Butchers (2016) User Reviews

captivating narrative and dialog

[michaeljtrubic · 8/10 · 1 February 2017]

Very similar to his work on Philomena. A brilliant narrative investigating a mass shooting and the tortured soul on trial. Much more that a legal drama. Its a dark journey into a barbaric (and hopefully much remedied) prison system in South Africa.

Steve Coogan has carved himself a specialty with these films. He brings intensity and brilliant deduction into this character and his scenes.

Also of note is that this appears to be from first time writer and a first time director. Very pleasant surprise that they are so good at delivering a moving subject in their first venture to attract the talented Mr. Coogan.

The young murderer is also very well cast and I can expect other large roles in his future.

The Warden's Noose

[pietclausen · 8/10 · 28 July 2018]

On a local radio talk show this morning listeners were asked to phone in and name a film that they had walked out from. A lady responded and stated that she and one other person on the other side of the theater, were the only viewers. An hour into the show the other person stood up, walked over to her and said ' I can't take it anymore, it's too gruesome' and walked out.

This brilliant film by Anant Singh tells the story of psychological trauma suffered by a South African prison warden, who lands in court for a most serious crime. In this court drama the facts come to light as the case progresses, until the verdict is given. Based on true facts this movie gives viewers insight into the trial and tribulations of this 17 year old warden.

The movie may be too graphic for some viewers, but it presents actual happenings, without which the movie would be senseless. The end result is an admirable film, leaving scope for thought. This gem has perhaps not had widespread circulation, but is certainly recommended if you come across it.

Thought-provoking courtroom drama which plays against expectations

[Red-Barracuda · 8/10 · 22 June 2016]

Set in apartheid South Africa, this courtroom drama is based on true events. It looks at the case of a young white man accused of shooting dead seven black men in a seemingly motiveless scenario. It soon became apparent that he worked in a high security prison as a guard in the death row unit, where his daily routines had him simultaneously look after the prisoners and also lead them to the gallows. His defence team tried to prove his actions were a direct result of the psychological trauma that came from such a disturbing and stressful environment.

I thought this was a somewhat unusual courtroom drama. In most examples of the genre we are presented with a clear cut scenario where the film-makers make it quite clear who we will be rooting for. This one, by contrast, operates almost exclusively in shades of grey. Unlike how it is usually done, the lawyers on both sides of the argument are presented fairly. In most films of this type the opposing lawyer is generally shown to be a moral degenerate; in this one the prosecution attorney, played by Andrea Riseborough, is often represented as more reasonable that the main protagonist, the defence lawyer played by Steve Coogan. This measured approach is to be commended, as it comes over as more realistic and less manipulative. It also serves to ensure that the courtroom scenes are slightly underplayed, meaning that the flash-back scenes to the parts depicting the executions seem even more horrific by direct comparison. These scenes in particular are perhaps what ultimately defines this film as they show capital punishment in intensely graphic detail and are very disturbing. It's many of the little horrible human details of the process that will stick long in the memory.

The story itself resolves itself in a way that is more complex than these films usually allow themselves to be. Coogan essentially wins his case against the system but in doing so gets his client a deal which feels – to me in any case – far too lenient and it is the black under-class who ultimately do not fully get justice. While at the same time, the reason given for triggering the murder seemed, to say the least, questionable. The case actually seemed horribly like a miscarriage of justice in an unfair society in all honesty. But through this case many things are examined quite effectively. Chief of these being the sheer horror of the death penalty mechanism and the way that it can sometimes be forgotten that it is ultimately a very violent and disturbing process. I think this film was highly interesting in that it is not about comforting resolutions - the resolution made me feel very uneasy in fact – but it feels truer to life for all that. It makes you ponder issues of justice, capital punishment and – even though it never comes out explicitly – racism. A very thought-provoking film overall.

Value of life

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 13 January 2018]

This is very moral based and has a purpose. So if you don't like a movie to hammer something into you, this may not be a movie for you to watch. Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot of tension and edge of your seat kind of stuff going on. Not to mention violence and drama about people who try living their lives, but have a lot of baggage.

The psyche of people who have a tough job is really fragile. So when at the end you get the and this happened shortly after in real life, you probably should not be too surprised. And you probably won't be too surprised about the outcome of the movie anyway. The acting is good, the direction is good and if you don't mind court dramas with moral flavour, you could do worse

Emotionally charged

[brentmay-36131 · 7/10 · 29 May 2020]

An extremely disturbing film, especially being based on truth. It raises several questions regarding the death penalty, and illustrates how apartheid South Africa affects not only the oppressed, but also he perpetrator.

Steve Coogan gave a great performance, but for me young Garion Dowds gave an engaging and moving performance that stole the show.

What was interesting was the layering of emotions, and the psychological portrayal of what happens to ordinary people subjected to a continual barrage of negativity (in this case hanging & the death penalty), and how this leads to emotional numbing & blunting.

A great if somewhat unsettling watch.

I felt quite uneasy watching some of this

[robdrummond · 7/10 · 23 August 2020]

Giving the state consent to murder it's own citizens is abhorrent to me. No matter what the crime. The state should not be empowered to engage in taking its own citizens lives.

Incarceration is the only answer.

In my life I have seen too Many people released as innocent from Jail after 10/20/30 years - that I cannot now consider that punishment justifiable.

This movie will get you thinking.

Watch it!

Richly filmed, compelling courtroom drama

[philneal-67740 · 10/10 · 25 June 2016]

This beautifully filmed drama, set in apartheid era South Africa manages to be at once brutal and sensitive. Steve Coogan and Andrea Riseborough face each other in the trial of a psychologically broken prison guard, accused of a multiple murder. Graphic and harrowing at times, delicately picking an unconventional course to its conclusion. Effectively a period piece, convincingly set in 1980's Pretoria, filmed in Cape Town in pleasing detail. Centred in the courtroom, but repeatedly flashing back to the accused's past as a prison guard on death row and following Coogan's progress through the trial in his defence. The prison and execution scenes play out in sickening detail, with a host of convincing supporting actors. The courtroom too has several well observed characters, from the judge to the bereaved relatives. The accused guard is well played; too, too young, and a mental and emotional shell of a man, opening up painfully slowly during the piece. Coogan though is the star; at first reluctant, then intrigued and finally quite determined as the defence counsel. The camera holds him close in this very convincing portrayal. The whole film is beautiful, cleverly lit and stylish, with great attention to all the details of the time and the place. The Afrikaaner Warrant Officer quietly chilling, the courtroom relatives, glorious. A genuinely emotional and thought provoking film, touching on several aspects of the capital punishment debate. It alternately brought to mind Oscar Pistorius' trial and Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit'. Be prepared for mixed feelings at the end!

Good - Seen Sydney Film Fest 2016

[conan-2 · 6/10 · 9 June 2016]

This movie is a nice vehicle for Steve Coogan and Andrea Riseborough. The film is about the old pre-Mandela South Africa and it does not illuminate any of the current issues they may face, so it could be called a period piece.

This is a courtroom drama and we do not see Andrea's character outside the courtroom setting, which is a pity as it could have added some depth to the issues. There is a touch of depth added by the protagonist's tennis buddies.

The story is moving but we know the steps to the end early and the movie just gets us there. There is a scene with Steve Coogan running along a beach, obviously this was to show he was troubled by the case but he was set up in the first scene as an anti-capital punishment campaigner and so he should not be shocked.

One of the better courtroom drama's.

[deloudelouvain · 8/10 · 8 December 2019]

Courtroom drama's, to be honest not really my cup of tea, as most of the time there is a lot of talking and not a lot of action, but in this case the story is so appealing and captivating I really enjoyed this movie. Based on true events this story is even more interesting as we try to understand why a vicious crime has been committed, why some moral dilemmas have not been studied before. How can a caregiver also be an executioner at the same time? It's a really good story to follow, never boring and the cast is also quality. A great Garion Dowds, very promising, and a good Steve Coogan as the attorney defending the murderer. Shepherds And Butchers, not a very inviting title, but to me one of the better courtroom drama's I've seen in a while.

Mixed

[koofasa · 6/10 · 17 March 2021]

This is an interesting look at how executions were performed during the apartheid era in South Africa. The way they killed prisoners in groups was heinous in itself. The boys who were made to work in the prison gallows were obviously traumatized by the cruel way prisoners were killed. This film examines how one young man had PTSD from his experience and then kills innocent people in an apparently random way. The film never really explains why the crime happened but that's likely the nature of PTSD which wasn't even a term back in 1987. You also see how the minority white people control every lever of power back then. Apartheid fell for a good reason shortly after this happened.

Uncomfortable, Unpleasantly Unmissable

[mike_olley · 10/10 · 18 June 2020]

This is a difficult film to watch. What initially appears to be just another horror of the nasty apartheid regime in South Africa blossoms swiftly into a deeper disturbing insight of its unwitting agents.

Challenging and moving account probing the depths of human depravity.

Steve Coogan is majestic - seriously understated film. Waiting for the end is no problem but what an ending. ..!!

Not bad because just one or two good actorl man band

[othmansaud · 6/10 · 26 January 2019]

Not bad because just one or two good actor hanging makes know Jan baby nana

Well Acted Propaganda Vehicle

[mcjensen-05924 · 5/10 · 28 October 2020]

It's nothing more than a prolonged speech against capital punishment, with needless and numerous depictions of group hangings. The courtroom scenes ring very absurd, as no judge in his right mind would allow such obviously prejudicial testimony. To drive points home the film makers relies on sheer repetition and ludicrous scenes of intelligence unsulting dialogue. Well made. Well acted. But unlimately not entertaining or informative. Not in the least.

a terrific story, in rough times

[ops-52535 · 10/10 · 18 November 2019]

If you like in court movies, with cases that are inevitable to make one and only one outcome, and magic happens ,then watch this movie.

its a heartwrenching, heartbreaking, flawlessly acted movie at all points and all areas.. its so well made that it made me feel sick at times.

the grumpy old man can just recommend

A hidden gem

[paul-rose7-246-61823 · 8/10 · 20 April 2020]

An excellent thought provoking film. Another great performance by Steve Coogan surely an understated serious actor who grows with every role.

Needed to be told this true story

[Braderz65 · 9/10 · 17 February 2019]

Oh and how they told and put this together. Coogan really takes this role to his heart.Humans inhumanity to another human is sometimes bewildering. Must watch film.

Poor acting

[sandfordjane · 4/10 · 20 December 2020]

It's such a shame that a really powerful story was turned I to a soap! Poor performance by Steve Coogan. I'd like to see it re-made with better actors and better direction

Provocative & Exceptionally Well Acted

[lavatch · 8/10 · 7 March 2017]

"The Hangman: Shepherds and Butchers" is a South African film based on true events of the late 1980s. The film is primarily a courtroom drama that touches on capital punishment, moral responsibility, and the mercurial nature of the judicial process.

The narrative introduces us to a troubled young man on trial for the murder of seven athletes, whom he shot in cold blood as they were driving in a minivan. The defendant, Leon Labuschagne, has assigned to him a defense attorney, who slowly pieces together the background of the young man while working as in a prison. Apparently, the defendant was traumatized by having to assist in executions by hanging of over 150 inmates.

The case emotional defense presented by Mr. Webber is countered by an icily cold prosecutor, Miss Murray, who argue for the death penalty. The film takes great pains to point out the differences between the two attorneys. Miss Murray seems remarkably detached from her work, calling to mind the nonchalant manner in which the inmates were subjected to gruesome hangings, sometimes lasting as long as fifteen minutes prior to expiration.

The presiding judge appeared to have made up his mind early in the trial without hearing all of the evidence. It is clear that on the panel of three judges, the presiding judge was a dissenter in the split vote.

This provocative film raises ethical issues on many legal fronts. In the closing credits, we learn that with the presidency of Nelson Mandela, there were much-needed reforms in South African jurisprudence.

Powerful and authentic courtroom drama

[martinpersson97 · 9/10 · 10 September 2023]

This drama, by an incredible director who is very acclaimed and a personal favourite of mine, is definitely worthwhile and deserving of all the praise it has gotten.

The script is very well written, very tigtht and very perfectly paced. All of this, of course, accompined by some stellar acting from true standouts, that makes this film a true highlight.

The cinematography, cutting and editing is very good, as one would expect from such a great director. It is overall very beautifully put together and pretty to look at, very well shot and cinematographied.

Overall, it is a powerful and heartfelt drama with lots of important messages and themes, that I would very much recommend for any lover of film!

Can not be forgotten easily

[zacheusp · 9/10 · 28 June 2022]

This film will haunt you for the rest of your life..Especially the gruesome execution scenes during apartheid rule. The courtroom scenes are well executed.

I was surprised by one detail.

[Andres-Camara · 5/10 · 22 October 2017]

What detail surprised me? Normally this type of films, they usually take more along the racist road, but this time no, this time the film is not going around, white against black, if not all drifting towards a plea against the death penalty. The funny thing is that on all sides we see that this is requested, except for the defense lawyer.

The truth is that it is not a bad movie, but it does not become a great movie, more than anything because I do not believe many of the things. The lawyer and the lawyer should not have passed the casting. She has neither strength nor anything and there are moments when I focus more on other aspects of her face than on her performance. The defendant is very content, but can lead not to believe it very easy.

The films of trials are usually boring and must be done very well. This is not the case. Moments of judgment are not the best taken. I do not really like photography. When you try to put the light through the windows, the photograph is horrible. He does not know how to do it. The moments on the street look more like a movie for television than anything else.

The management is not great either. It does not get boring, but it's very close. It is very repetitive. He does not know how to do anything but close-ups.

You will see it and well you have not wasted the time, but almost

Not so long ago...

[Znoodles · 10/10 · 22 July 2022]

35 years ago is not distant past. It's barely history. It's now July 2022. As the United States endures senatorial hearings regarding the January 6th Insurrection when a frenzied mob chanted "Hang Mike Pence" I'm watching this movie feeling sick that a 17 year old boy was instructed to escort men to be hung for their deaths. His 2nd day on the job was #1 and he escorted 163 more men.

South Africa was still enduring racist brutalities in 1987.

Law enforcement and Justice need not be despensed savagely.

This movie represents the brutish nature that is a Hallmark of racism.

Watching this movie , remember, it's based on true events.

Compelling, well acted and shocking

[mtrinca-00320 · 9/10 · 19 January 2024]

Steve Coogan is an excellent actor.

In this film he plays a defence attorney for a man who has killed seven men for no apparent reason.

The accused doesn't wish to be defended, cannot remember what happened and refuses to talk about it.

In my opinion, other than the opening scene, the film begins slowly but builds to a crescendo as Coogan's character puts questions to the accused in an attempt to find the cause or trigger for this event to occur.

The facts of the case are self evident and there is no argument against that but why would he do this to people he did not know?

The film uses flashbacks where the Coogan character poses these questions and we get to see the situations the defendant was in and what he had to do. We see his slow progress that leads to the murders.

The end footnotes state that this case had an influence in changing South African law regarding the death penalty.

One thing mentioned in the film was that with murderers and victims, no one remembers the victims. Lets hope this isn't the case.

Violent, gut wrenching fiction

[tomnel-12769 · 2/10 · 31 August 2020]

This movie is scripted from the novel of the same title. The novel is a propaganda vehicle aimed at making capital punishment look at outrageous and primitive as possible in which it has a great deal of success. The depictions of group hangings are graphic, explicit and repulsive in the extreme. There should be a content advisory for people who might have a less than sturdy psychological tolerance of brutal cinematography. At the least one should keep in mind that novels are works of fiction. That will help. The story line is that assisting in such brutal mass executions can cause an otherwise person to become mentally ill to the point of being dangerous to others. This is used as a defense in the trial of a prison warder who has committed a violent crime shortly after one such execution. The acting is very good, dialogue holds up pretty well and the suspense over how the trial will turn out is well effected. Overall a watchable movie - if the you have the stomach for it.