Cry Freedom

Genre: political thriller

With: Kevin Kline (Donald Woods), Denzel Washington (Stephen or ‟Steve” Biko), Penelope Wilton (Wendy Woods), Josette Simon (Doctor Ramphele), Kevin McNally (Ken), Sophie Mgcina (Evalina), John Matshikiza (Mapetla), Wabei Siyolwe (Tenjy), Zakes Mokae (Father Kani), John Thaw (Kruger), John Hargreaves (Bruce), Timothy West (De Wet), Ian Richardson (State Prosecutor), Michael Turner (Judge Boshoff), Tommy Buson (Tami)

Director: Richard Attenborough

Screenplay: John Briley (based on two books by Donald Woods)

Release: 1987

Studio: Marble Arch Productions, Universal Pictures

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.6/10 

 

‟It’s my country. I go where I like.”

 

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Story-line: South Africa, November 1975. When White soldiers and policemen storm the Crossroads settlement to brutally evict its Black ‟squatters”, the editor of the Daily Dispatch, Donald Woods, sees the incident as one more opportunity to portray Black leader Steve Biko as a ‟sensationalist who spreads hatred”. Before long, Woods will get to meet this hate-monger face to face... and begin to understand what apartheid truly means to those on the other side of the fence.      

Pluses: superb acting by Kevin Kline and especially Denzel Washington as the larger-than-life Steve Biko, a relentless, high-quality screenplay that treats its real-life subject with thoroughness and intelligence, fine direction (notably in group scenes), expert cinematography (Ronnie Taylor) and editing (Lesley Walker), an irreproachable musical score by George Fenton and Jonas Gwangwa.

Minuses: some may argue that the film depicts race issues mainly through the eyes of a white man but this does not detract from its human value. Both Woods and Biko have crucial lessons to teach us.

Comments: there are thousands of good movies in our cinematic universe but few are so impressive that watching them for even a minute draws you in and convinces you of their importance. CRY FREEDOM is one such accomplishment and I am not ashamed to say that I fought back tears more than once while seeing it. At times monstrous and Kafkaesque as a depiction of a despicable rule, Richard Attenborough’s work is also noble and constructive. I will always treasure this monument to human freedom and dignity. 

 

MBiS 

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