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Waiting for the Barbarians

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Waiting for the Barbarians

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Summary

The Magistrate is administrator of an isolated frontier settlement on the border of an unnamed empire. He looks forward to an easy retirement, until the arrival of Colonel Joll, who is assigned to report on the activities of the 'barbarians', and on the security situation on the border. Joll's series of lethal interrogations, and the torture of a young 'barbarian' woman combine to lead the Magistrate to a crisis of conscience, and an act of rebellion. Drama, starring Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson

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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Andrew Collins

Embrace of the Serpent director Ciro Guerra makes his English-language debut with this adaptation of JM Coetzee's novel, set in an unnamed colonial outpost at an indeterminate time. Mark Rylance is introduced as the gently soulful Magistrate, overseer of a fortress where the flag is dutifully raised and lowered, and possibly fictitious "barbarians" are held at bay. The arrival of Johnny Depp's brutish colonel puts paid to any equilibrium by capturing and torturing a group of indigenous tribespeople, after which Rylance faces incarceration by his psychotic deputy (Robert Pattinson) on trumped-up charges. Unflinchingly and sadistically violent, Guerra's film packs all the widescreen beauty of David Lean's epics - impeccably photographed by veteran Chris Menges (The Killing Fields, The Mission) - but with unbearable sadism at its core, as order breaks inexorably down.

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6.0/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameThe MagistrateMark RylanceColonel JollJohnny DeppOfficer MandelRobert PattinsonThe GirlGana BayarsaikhanMaiGreta ScacchiThe LieutenantSam ReidClerkDavid Dencik

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Crew

rolenameDirectorCiro Guerra

Details

Released on

2020-09-11

Languages

English | Mongolian

Formats

Colour

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