Shepherds and Butchers

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!

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

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.

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. ..!!

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.