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  • A World Apart (1988)
  • PG
    112 min | Drama
A World Apart (1988)
PG
112 min | Drama

1963. Thirteen year old Molly Roth, the eldest of three offspring of Gus and Diana Roth, lives a carefree life as part of the affluent white minority in South Africa. Race is a non-issue for her as although, under apartheid, the Roths ...See more1963. Thirteen year old Molly Roth, the eldest of three offspring of Gus and Diana Roth, lives a carefree life as part of the affluent white minority in South Africa. Race is a non-issue for her as although, under apartheid, the Roths largely exist among other white people like them, she feels equally comfortable around the black people in her life, such as their servants and her parents' black friends. Beyond knowing that they are busy in their work, Molly is unaware of the full extent of what her parents do, Gus a leading member of the South African Communist Party and Ruth an anti-apartheid journalist who also secretly works for the underground in support of the outlawed African National Congress. Shortly after Gus quietly escapes the country to evade probable arrest by the government - Molly believing it just a short work related trip - Molly's carefree life starts to unravel when Diana is detained for ninety days under a new law that allows such detention without ever even being charged with a criminal offense. The goal of Diana's interrogators, led by Inspector Muller, is to get her to divulge details especially of the underground, most specifically proverbial "names". Beyond missing her mother, Molly begins to resent the anti-apartheid work which has directly and indirectly impacted her life in a negative way, she wanting a mother, not an activist-mother. As the situation with Diana evolves, which includes someone needing to act as caregivers to Molly and her younger sisters while Diana is in detention, Molly gets a broader perspective of her situation under apartheid as she is able to see more of life just outside her protected white enclave, and as she is made aware of what Diana is trying to achieve for society in her work. Written by Huggo See less
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Release date
Jun 17, 1988 (United States)

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Cast

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30 cast members
Name Known for
Jodhi May
Molly Roth Molly Roth   See fewer
Jeroen Krabbé
Gus Roth Gus Roth   See fewer
Barbara Hershey
Diana Roth Diana Roth   See fewer
Nadine Chalmers
Yvonne Abelson Yvonne Abelson   See fewer
Maria Pilar
Spanish Dance Teacher Spanish Dance Teacher   See fewer
Kate Fitzpatrick
June Abelson June Abelson   See fewer
Tim Roth
Harold Harold   See fewer
Carolyn Clayton-Cragg
Miriam Roth Miriam Roth   See fewer
Mackay Tickey
Milius Milius   See fewer
Merav Gruer
Jude Roth Jude Roth   See fewer
Albee Lesotho
Solomon Solomon   See fewer
Paul Freeman
Kruger Kruger   See fewer
Esma Levend
Whitworth Whitworth   See fewer
Rosalie Crutchley
Mrs. Harris Mrs. Harris   See fewer
Toby Salaman
Gerald Abelson Gerald Abelson   See fewer
Stephen Williams
Arresting Officer Arresting Officer   See fewer
Adrian Dunbar
Le Roux Le Roux   See fewer
David Suchet
Muller Muller   See fewer
Margaret Hogan
History Teacher History Teacher   See fewer
Nomaziko Zondo
Thandle Thandle   See fewer
Andrew Proctor
Arresting Officer Arresting Officer   See fewer
Andrew Whaley
Interrogating Officer Interrogating Officer   See fewer
Cont Mhlanga
Mtutureli Niekwu Mtutureli Niekwu   See fewer
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