Proteus is a film by Canadian director John Greyson. Although the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2003, it did not have a general theatrical release until 2005. Set in 18th century South Africa, the film dramatizes the true story of Claas Blank and Rijkhaart Jacobsz , two prisoners on Robben Island who were executed for sodomy in 1735. Their relationship also had a racial component, as Jacobsz was a white Dutchman, while Blank was a black Khoi. The film also stars Shaun Smyth as Virgil Niven, a Scottish botanist who befriends Blank for his knowledge of South... African flora, but may in fact have his own sexual interest in Blank. The film also attempts to explore unanswered questions, such as why prison officials tolerated the relationship for a full decade before Blank and Jacobsz were executed.
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| Release date: | 2003 |
| Directed by: | John Greyson, Jack Nicholson |
| Runtime: | 100 Minutes |
| Music by: | Don Pyle |