Euzhan Palcy’s 1989 feature, A Dry White Season, was the first major Hollywood film directed by a Black woman. With a superb cast, including outstanding supporting performances by Winston Ntshona, Thoko Ntshinga, Janet Suzman, a chilling Jürgen Prochnow and Marlon Brando, who was nominated for an Oscar, it is a thrilling and ferocious portrayal of atrocity and discrimination. It comes to Blu-ray for the first time in the UK in June with extras including a director interview.

A Dry White Season is based on the novel of the same name by André Brink with the screenplay co-written by Colin Welland (Chariots of Fire) and Euzhan Palcy. In apartheid-era South Africa, schoolteacher Ben Du Toit (Donald Sutherland) lives with his wife and two children, wilfully naive to the racism and injustice in his country. That is until the son of his gardener is beaten and killed by police officers in the aftermath of a protest seeking better education for Black children. This devastating event forces Ben to open his eyes and emboldens him to finally stand up and take action, seeking the help of Black activist Stanley (Zakes Mokae) and sympathetic journalist Melanie (Susan Sarandon) – an isolating endeavour that will change the lives of Ben and his family forever.

A Dry White Season will be released on UK Blu-ray by the BFI on 17 June 2024 at the RRP of £19.99.

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:

• A Dry White Season intro and Q&A (2019, 36 mins): director Euzhan Palcy talks to Lydia Ogwang following a 30th anniversary screening at TIFF
• André Brink (1990, 19 mins): the author discusses his novel, the film adaptation and his own political awakening
• Jemima + Johnny (1966, 30 mins): a short film by South African activist and filmmaker Lionel Ngakane, featuring a cameo by Zakes Mokae
• The Burning (1968, 32 mins): Stephen Frears’ debut film depicts apartheid-era South Africa through the eyes of a young boy
• First pressing only: Illustrated booklet with a new essay by Kevin Le Gendre; writing on Jemima + Johnny and The Burning by Ellen Cheshire; credits

Pre-order from the BFI Shop: https://shop.bfi.org.uk/a-dry-white-season-blu-ray.html