37th Annual VIRGINIA FILM FESTIVAL Oct 30-Nov 3, 2024

37th Annual VIRGINIA FILM FESTIVAL October 30-November 3, 2024

Shepherds and Butchers

Nineteen-year-old Leon, a white prison guard in late 1980s South Africa, recklessly opens fire on a bus, killing seven black men. Reluctantly, expert defense attorney John Weber takes on the case, seemingly headed for an easy conviction. Soon, Weber discovers that Leon worked on death row, both befriending the inmates and having to assist in over 160 of their executions over time. Passionately anti-death penalty, Weber begins to question the traumatic effects of his defendant’s profession. Inspired by true events, Shepherds and Butchers tells the story of a case that had the potential to put South Africa’s entire penal system on trial.

Date

Saturday, November 5

Time

9:00 PM

Location

Other : St. Anne's-Belfield

Film Info

Director: Oliver Schmitz

Runtime: 107 min.

Year: 2016

Country: South Africa

Featuring: Steve Coogan, Andrea Riseborough, Garion Dowds, Robert Hobbs, Deon Lotz.