Judge Dennis Davis
Film: Breaker Morant
Summary
Judge Dennis Davis explores the story and significance of the legal film “Breaker Morant” and discusses why it was deemed controversial in parts of the world.
Judge Dennis Davis
Dennis Davis is a judge of the High Court of South Africa and judge president of the Competition Appeals Court of South Africa. He has held professorial appointments at the University of Cape Town and University of the Witwatersrand, as well as numerous visiting appointments at Cambridge, Harvard, New York University, and others. He has authored eleven books, including Lawfare: Judging Politics in South Africa.
I find that rather difficult to distinguish. And let’s be honest, Serena, Putin’s entire propaganda is that he’s fighting the noble principle of defending Russia against the evil NATO and the anti- And a bunch of Nazis. The answer is, all wars ultimately lead to precisely the consequences that Beresford was speaking about. I think that’s what he’s saying in the film, and what he luminously illustrates. I think the point about it, however, is it comes back to a proposition that we discussed when we did “Judgement at Nuremberg” which is this, that it all depends upon who wins. That the narrative then is shaped by that. Which, of course, is problematic. And I think the thing about the film, which is so good, is that there, 78 years after the events, Beresford takes that history, reflects upon it in a manner which essentially is no longer the victor’s justice but justice in a broader sense, and then asking us to make our own call on that. Which is why I think it remains a classic film, both in its genre and more generally.