director Bruce Beresford. Upon its release in 1980, Beresford's film both brought Morant's life story to a worldwide audience and "hoisted the images of the accused officers to the level of Australian icons and martyrs." Many Australians now regard Lts. Morant and Handcock as scapegoats or even as the victims of judicial murder. Attempts continue, with widespread public support, to obtain them a posthumous pardon or even a new trial. In a 1999 interview, Beresford said about his film, "I read an article about it recently in the Los Angeles Times and the writer said it's the story of these guys who were railroaded by the British. But that's not what it's about at all. The film never pretended for a moment that they weren't guilty. It said they are guilty. But what was interesting about it was that it analysed why men in this situation would behave as they had never behaved before in their lives. It's the pressures that are put to bear on people in war time. Look at the atrocities in Yugoslavia. Look at all the things that happen in these countries committed by people who appear to be quite normal. That was what I was interested in examining. I always get amazed when people say to me that this is a film about poor Australians who were framed by the Brits." See also Breaker Morant (film) Breaker Morant (play) Military history of Australia Command responsibility Nuremberg defense Pardons for Morant, Handcock and Witton War crimes trials Footnotes Citations Notes References Press citations on Internet (Chronologically arranged) Contemporary treatments: Executed Officers: Detailed Reports of the Trial: Five Main Charges, The Brisbane Courier, (Saturday, 24 May 1902), p.6. Isaacs, I.A., "Opinion of the Hon. Isaac A. Isaacs K.C., M.P., re the case of Lieutenant Witton", (Melbourne), 28 August 1902. 'L.', "Australian Military Legislation", The Sydney Morning Herald, (Wednesday, 1 July 1903), p.5. Petition for clemency, pardon, and the immediate release from incarceration of George Ramsdale Witton, addressed to King Edward VII, and signed by 37 citizens of Colebrook, Tasmania, c.1904. Retrospectives: Copeland, H., "A Tragic memory of the Boer War: When Two Australian Officers Were Shot by Lord Kitchener's Orders", The Argus Week-End Magazine, (Saturday, 11 June 1938), p.6. Paterson, A.B. ("Banjo"), "An Execution and a Royal Pardon", The Sydney Morning Herald, (Saturday, 25 February 1939), p.21. Burke, A., "Melodrama of Boer War", The Sydney Morning Herald,