Australian director Bruce Beresford adapts the story of three fellow countrymen who fight for the British Empire in the colonial Boer War in South Africa and are tried and convicted of war crimes.
The issues raised in the 1901 guerrilla-war trial echo through decades of 20th century wars: Which orders to follow, which civilians are the enemy, etc. Includes outstanding performances, especially by Edward Woodward and Bryan Brown as the Australian officers and by Jack Thompson as their disheveled defense attorney.
Trivia: Oscar-nominated for best adapted screenplay”. Ordinary People took the trophy that year.
