Echoing the terrible Boer War of the late 19th century, which was rarely filmed, the huge Australian film Heroes or Scoundrels has never been released on DVD in France. Its release on Blu-ray is a little event not to be missed!
- Buy Heroes or Bastards on Blu-ray on Amazon for €19
Watch out, masterpiece. Unseen for years and never released on DVD in France, the Blu-ray release of Bruce Beresford’s Australian war film Heroes or Bastards is a bit of an event!
At the end of the Second Boer War (1899-1902), which pitted the British Empire against the Boer republics (the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic of South Africa), three Australian officers who were division Bushveldt gunners. infantry) are in court martial. When their unit captain is ambushed and killed by Boers, these three soldiers, led by Lieutenant Harry “Breaker” Morant, seek revenge.
Caught wearing the coat of the dead captain, Burra was immediately shot in revenge. This murder and the disappearance of the German missionary led to the arrest of three soldiers.
Lord Kitchener, who commands the British forces in this war, hopes that the Second Boer War will end with a peace conference. So he uses the trial of Lt. Morant and two others to demonstrate his willingness to harshly judge his own soldiers, going beyond the rules of war.
But the case gets complicated because it involves allegations of murder by active-duty soldiers. And defense attorney Major Thompson is given just one day to prepare to save his clients’ lives…
A three-year war, terrible and very little known to the general public
Australia has produced very great directors such as Peter Weir or George Miller, just the most famous. In 1980, we had to rely on Bruce Beresford for his extraordinary film. for this work is one of the few, if not the only one, devoted entirely to an episode of the Boer War (the Dutch word meaning “peasants”).
A horrific war that remains largely unknown to the general public. This authentic story, notably featuring the great and late British comedian as Lt. Morant, with a 100% Australian cast and lavish photography signed by renowned cinematographer Donald McAlpine, is considered one of the most authentic stories ever made. Innocent cases in the annals of military justice history. Today, Harry Morant has become a popular figure in Australia.
The historically fascinating film also shows that the Boers were the true inventors of guerrilla warfare tactics. Just as it is an opportunity to challenge a widely accepted idea: the first concentration camps were not built by the Nazis, but by the British to put the Boers and local civilians in terrible conditions.
The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Screenplay in 1981. Actor Jack Thompson, who plays the lawyer, won Best Supporting Actor at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival, and the film competed for the Palme d’Or. In addition, the feature film won 10 Australian Film Institute awards, including Best Director for Bruce Beresford, Best Picture and Best Screenplay.
This DVD/Blu-ray (VF mono/VOST 5.1) combo is published by Rimini Editions Heroes or villains? Accompanied by a 24-page booklet detailing the shooting and the true events on which the film is based; Interview with director (18’45) and comedian Brian Brown, who stars in the film (31 min).
- Buy Heroes or Bastards on Blu-ray on Amazon for €19
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Source: allocine
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
