Breaker Morant (1980)

As the dawn of the twentieth century unfurls, the dust-choked plains of South Africa find themselves embroiled in the throes of the Boer War. Amidst this turbulent backdrop, we follow the fates of three Australian Lieutenants: Harry "Breaker" Morant, Peter Handcock, and George Witton, seasoned soldiers serving as senior officers of the Bushveldt Carbineers, a branch of the Australian Army under British command. Their purpose: to counter the relentless onslaught of fragmented Boer guerrillas, not aligned with any formal army, yet fiercely opposing the British military. The trio find themselves ensnared in a precarious predicament, facing a collective court-martial. The charges: Morant's supposed order to execute six Boer prisoners, Witton's alleged killing of one such prisoner prior to the execution, and Handcock's supposed involvement in the murder of a German missionary, Reverend Daniel Heese. All charges, in reality, are part of a nefarious scheme by Lord Kitchener, seeking to use the three men as scapegoats to expedite the end of the war. While Morant, an ex-pat Brit with a penchant for poetry, and Witton, a youthful and somewhat naive officer, confess to their actions, they vehemently argue the circumstances. Morant insists he acted on an indirect command from Lord Kitchener via his deceased friend and former commanding officer, Captain Simon Hunt. Witton pleads self-defense, alleging the prisoner attacked him. The case against Handcock, the group's brash, confident member, is purely circumstantial, devoid of any eyewitnesses. The imbalance of power is starkly apparent in the courtroom, with the prosecution led by Captain Alfred Taylor who had six weeks of preparation, while the defense, led by inexperienced Major J.F. Thomas, had merely a day. Despite his lack of trial experience, Thomas remains undeterred, promising to unearth the truth and defend his clients with fervor, surprising many. "Breaker Morant" is an intense exploration of the blurred lines of war morality, the manipulation of truth, and the struggle for justice in a world overshadowed by power and political expediency.

Breaker Morant is a drama movie featuring Edward Woodward and directed by Bruce Beresford.

Breaker Morant is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Freevee, Shout! Factory TV and Tubi TV and it's also available on Criterion Channel, Max and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Breaker Morant on Amazon Video.