Breaker Morant Reviews

A good court-martial drama in the old-fashioned style. Set during the Boer War--fought in South Africa between the descendants of Dutch colonists (the Boers) and the British during the years 1899-1902--BREAKER MORANT chronicles an obscure incident in 1901 when three Australian soldiers stationed in South Africa to assist the British were court martialed for executing enemy prisoners. Fighting what was, in essence, a guerrilla war, Lt. Harry "Breaker" Morant (Edward Woodward) ordered the executions acting under the orders of the British command. One of these prisoners turns out to have been a German citizen fighting alongside the Boers. Eager to maintain a good relationship with Germany, the British decide to make scapegoats of the Australians. Capably directed by Australian Bruce Beresford and well acted, BREAKER MORANT is a fascinating and satisfying experience. Unfolding his film in flashback during testimony at the trial, Beresford skillfully translates Kenneth Ross' play to the screen with an eye for historical accuracy.