One man's conviction divided a nation.
Australia, 1958. When a nine year old white girl is found murdered, police are quick to arrest illiterate Aborigine, Max Stuart. Under interrogation Max admits to the killing. With a legal system compromised by intimidation tactics, the skills of his two gifted but naïve defense lawyers are put to the test.
Robert Carlyle David O'Sullivan
Charles Dance Roderic Chamberlain
Kerry Fox Helen Devaney
Colin Friels Father Tom Dixon
Ben Mendelsohn Rupert Murdoch
David Ngoombujarra Young Max Stuart
Max Stuart Old Max Stuart
Rhys McConnochie Justice Abbott
Bille Brown Thomas Playford
John Gregg Rohan Rivett
Roy Billing Det Sgt Turner
Gary Waddell Constable Jones
Patrick Duggin Policeman #1
Andrew Martin Policeman #2
Frank Gallacher Justice Reed
Vincent Ball Chief Justice Napier
Peter Whitford Justice Windeyer
Heather Mitchell Roma Chamberlain
Chris Haywood Det-Sgt Karskens
Paul Sonkkila Bishop
Petru Gheorghiu Dr. Strehlow
Penne Hackforth-Jones Mrs. Aston
Marshall Napier Prison Warder
Josephine Byrnes Barmaid
Andy Anderson Norman Geiseman
Tim Robertson Mr. King
Peter Carroll Viscount Simonds
Tony Mack Mr. Aston
Lisa Flanagan Girl at Cinema
Donald MacDonald Lord Tucker
Nick Readman Alan Moir
Edmund Pegge Dawson
Scott Harrison Ed Montale
Don Barker Ceduna Magistrate
Edwin Hodgeman Govt. Prosecutor
Briah Victory Mary Hattam
Bernard Hull Policeman #3
Dylan Lloyd Policeman #4
Phillip Lowe Playford's Assistant
Roger Newcombe Clerk of Arraigns
Colleen Cross Air Hostess
Wojciech Pisarek Yugoslav Drunk
Paul Simpson Paul Spry
John Leigh Gray Jury Foreman
Chris Duncan Clerk of Courts
David Buchanan Juror (uncredited)
Chris Koch Court Attendance (uncredited)
Susan Lyons Dr. Thompson (uncredited)
- Robert CarlyleDavid O'Sullivan
- Charles DanceRoderic Chamberlain
- Kerry FoxHelen Devaney
- Colin FrielsFather Tom Dixon
- Ben MendelsohnRupert Murdoch
- David NgoombujarraYoung Max Stuart
- Max StuartOld Max Stuart
- Rhys McConnochieJustice Abbott
- Bille BrownThomas Playford
- John GreggRohan Rivett
- Roy BillingDet Sgt Turner
- Gary WaddellConstable Jones
- Patrick DugginPoliceman #1
- Andrew MartinPoliceman #2
- Frank GallacherJustice Reed
- Vincent BallChief Justice Napier
- Peter WhitfordJustice Windeyer
- Heather MitchellRoma Chamberlain
- Chris HaywoodDet-Sgt Karskens
- Paul SonkkilaBishop
- Petru GheorghiuDr. Strehlow
- Penne Hackforth-JonesMrs. Aston
- Marshall NapierPrison Warder
- Josephine ByrnesBarmaid
- Andy AndersonNorman Geiseman
- Tim RobertsonMr. King
- Peter CarrollViscount Simonds
- Tony MackMr. Aston
- Lisa FlanaganGirl at Cinema
- Donald MacDonaldLord Tucker
- Nick ReadmanAlan Moir
- Edmund PeggeDawson
- Scott HarrisonEd Montale
- Don BarkerCeduna Magistrate
- Edwin HodgemanGovt. Prosecutor
- Briah VictoryMary Hattam
- Bernard HullPoliceman #3
- Dylan LloydPoliceman #4
- Phillip LowePlayford's Assistant
- Roger NewcombeClerk of Arraigns
- Colleen CrossAir Hostess
- Wojciech PisarekYugoslav Drunk
- Paul SimpsonPaul Spry
- John Leigh GrayJury Foreman
- Chris DuncanClerk of Courts
- David BuchananJuror (uncredited)
- Chris KochCourt Attendance (uncredited)
- Susan LyonsDr. Thompson (uncredited)