简介：SetattheheightoftheMauMauuprisinginKenyainthe1950s.DistrictOfficer(BobPeck)andhiswife(PhyllisLogan)attempttomaintainorderinthedyingdaysofEnglishcolonialism.Outofcharitytheyemployalittleboy,thesonofalocalfamilyasakitchentoto,andthechildformsanunequalfriendshipwithsonofthehousehold.ThefatherisaDistrictOfficerwhoisattemptingtokeeporderonbehalfofthecolonialforces,themotherisaboredhousewife,whopaystheservantswithbadgrace.Theirsoncutsupsnakesandrunsfreeinthegarden,hemakesfriendswiththekitchentoto.InthemeantimetheMauMaugetatthekitchenstaffandmakethemsweartheoathtobeheadawhiteman,theDistrictOfficerisatarget.HeandhiswifestruggleinAfrica,shewithherracismandbothwiththeirmarriage.Heishavinganaffair.Whilstheisaway,theMauMauattack,theycomeintothehouseanddragthemotherfromtheverandah,inapanicthesongrabshisrifleandattemptstoshoottheattackers.Heshootshismotherdeadinstead.Thefingerofsuspicionpointsatthekitchenstaffandthekitchentoto,whodecidestogoontherun.Inordertopursuehisfamily'sattackerstheDistrictOfficer,bringsinMasaitrackers.Theyhavenoracialortribalaxetogrind,butneitherdotheyshowanymercy.Theytrapthekitchentotoonbridgeoverariver,beforetheDistrictOfficercanstopthem,theyshoothim.Thefilmisthestoryofwell-meaningincompetenceandcolonialarroganceinthelastdaysofBritishimperialism.Thefilmcombinesascathinglyrealisticportraitofanunhappyembitteredmarriagewithanengaging,ifdoomed,portraitofchildhoodsincolonialKenya.…