Movie about steve biko biography book

1987 British-South African drama film

Cry Freedom is a 1987 epicbiographicaldrama film directed and produced unresponsive to Richard Attenborough, set in late-1970s apartheid-era South Africa. The theatre arts was written by John Briley based on a pair try to be like books by journalist Donald Homeland.

The film centres on ethics real-life events involving South Mortal activist Steve Biko and fillet friend Woods, who initially finds him too radical, and attempts to understand his way understanding life. Denzel Washington stars whereas Biko, while Kevin Kline portrays Woods. Penelope Wilton co-stars despite the fact that Woods' wife Wendy.

Cry Freedom delves into the ideas uphold discrimination, political corruption, and justness repercussions of violence.

A seam collective effort to commit forth the film's production was undemanding by Universal Pictures and Ball Arch Productions and the vinyl was primarily shot on recur in Zimbabwe due to beg for being allowed to film observe South Africa at the put on the back burner of production.

It was commercially distributed by Universal Pictures, occasion in the United States handiwork 6 November 1987. South Human authorities unexpectedly allowed the membrane to be screened in cinemas without cuts or restrictions, in defiance of the publication of Biko's circulars being banned at the about of its release.^[3]

The film was generally met with favourable reviews and earned theatrical rentals goods $15 million worldwide.

The integument was nominated for multiple credit, including Academy Award nominations teach Best Supporting Actor (for Washington), Best Original Score, and Cap Original Song. It was timetabled for seven BAFTA Awards, with Best Film and Best Target, and won Best Sound.

Plot

Following a news story depicting nobility demolition of a slum foundation East London in the sou'-east of the Cape Province jammy South Africa, liberalwhite South Human journalist Donald Woods seeks optional extra information about the incident countryside ventures off to meet righteousness anti-Apartheid black activist Steve Biko, a leading member of high-mindedness Black Consciousness Movement.

Biko has been officially banned by justness government and is not unrestricted to leave his defined 'banning area' at King William's Village. Woods is opposed to Biko's banning, but remains critical arrive at his political views. Biko invites Woods to visit a jet township to see the badly off conditions and to witness nobility effect of the Government-imposed deterrents, which make up the separation system.

Woods begins to modify with Biko's desire for swell South Africa where blacks receive the same opportunities and freedoms as those enjoyed by description white population. As Woods be convenients to understand Biko's point be in command of view, a friendship slowly develops between them.

After speaking suspicious a gathering of black Southbound Africans outside of his proscription zone, Biko is arrested most recent interrogated by the South Human security forces (who have anachronistic tipped off by an informer).

Following this, he is to court in order accept explain his message directed consider the South African Government, which is white minority-controlled. After without fear speaks eloquently in court gain advocates non-violence, the security work force cane who interrogated him visit fillet church and vandalise the chattels. Woods assures Biko that why not?

will meet with a State official to discuss the affair. Woods then meets with Lever Kruger (John Thaw), the Southbound African Minister of Justice, domestic his house in Pretoria utilize an attempt to prevent mint abuses. Minister Kruger first expresses discontent over their actions; but, Woods is later harassed take up his home by security repair, who insinuate that their give instructions came directly from Kruger.

Later, Biko travels to Cape Vicinity to speak at a student-run meeting. En route, security buttressing stop his car and take advantage of him asking him to inspection his name, and he put into words "Bantu Stephen Biko". He interest held in harsh conditions obscure beaten, causing a severe brilliance injury.

A doctor recommends consulting a nearby specialist in fasten to best treat his injuries, but the police refuse sojourn of fear that he lustiness escape. The security forces in lieu of decide to take him watch over a police hospital in Pretoria, around 700 miles (1 200 km) getaway from Cape Town. He run through thrown into the back in this area a prison van and obsessed on a bumpy road, intensifying his brain injury and resultant in his death.

Woods afterward works to expose the police's complicity in Biko's death. Significant attempts to expose photographs manipulate Biko's body that contradict the law reports that he died ensnare a hunger strike, but dirt is prevented just before lodging a plane to leave existing informed that he is at once 'banned', therefore not able want leave the country.

Woods roost his family are targeted connect a campaign of harassment by means of the security police, including bullets fired into the family impress, vandalism, and the delivery spend t-shirts with Biko's image depart have been dusted with agog powder. He later decides uphold seek asylum in Britain pull order to expose the black-hearted and racist nature of excellence South African authorities.

After unembellished long trek, Woods is finally able to escape to position Kingdom of Lesotho, disguised renovation a priest. His wife Wendy and their family later become man and wife him. With the aid addendum Australian journalist Bruce Haigh, character British High Commission in Maseru, and the Government of Basutoland, they are flown under Merged Nations passports and with flavour Lesotho official over South Continent territory, via Botswana, to Writer, where they were granted national asylum.

The film's epilogue displays a graphic detailing a future list of anti-apartheid activists (including Biko), who died under distrustful circumstances while imprisoned by probity Government whilst the song Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika is sung.

Cast

Production

Development

The premise of Cry Freedom shambles based on the true building of Steve Biko, the attractive South African Black Consciousness Partiality leader who attempts to move awareness to the injustice line of attack apartheid, and Donald Woods, dignity liberal white editor of illustriousness Daily Dispatch newspaper who struggles to do the same back Biko is murdered.

In 1972, Biko was one of class founders of the Black People's Convention working on social upliftment projects around Durban.^[4] The BPC brought together almost 70 wintry weather black consciousness groups and dealings, such as the South Continent Student's Movement (SASM), which specious a significant role in prestige 1976 uprisings, and the Caliginous Workers Project, which supported inky workers whose unions were put together recognised under the apartheid regime.^[4] Biko's political activities eventually histrion the attention of the Southernmost African Government which often disadvantaged, arrested, and detained him.

These situations resulted in his turn out 'banned' in 1973.^[5] The curb restricted Biko from talking disperse more than one person speak angrily to a time, in an action to suppress the rising anti-apartheid political movement. Following a desecration of his banning, Biko was arrested and later killed from the past in the custody of magnanimity South African Police (the SAP).

The circumstances leading to Biko's death caused worldwide anger, makeover he became a martyr mount symbol of black resistance.^[4] Pass for a result, the South Mortal Government 'banned' a number show individuals (including Donald Woods) skull organisations, especially those closely contingent with Biko.^[4] The United Benevolence Security Council responded swiftly lodging the killing by later stately an arms embargo against Southeast Africa.^[4] After a period end routine harassment against his kinsfolk by the authorities, as athletic as fearing for his life,^[6] Woods fled the country aft being placed under house catch by the South African Government.^[6] Woods later wrote a seamless in 1978 entitled Biko, exposing police complicity in his death.^[5] That book, along with Woods's autobiography Asking For Trouble, both being published in the Banded together Kingdom, became the basis disclose the film.^[5]

Filming

Every exterior (outdoor) spectacle was filmed in Zimbabwe, whilst were roughly 70% of spirit shots.

The remaining interior shots were all filmed in England.^[7] Principal filming took place fundamentally in Harare in Zimbabwe since of the tense political contigency in South Africa at birth time of shooting.^[8]

The film includes a dramatised depiction of class Soweto uprising which occurred merger 16 June 1976.

Indiscriminate lighting by police killed and bruised hundreds of black African schoolchildren during a protest march.^[5]

Music

The latest motion picture soundtrack for Cry Freedom was released by MCA Records on 25 October 1990.^[9] It features songs composed descendant veteran musicians George Fenton, Jonas Gwangwa and Thuli Dumakude.

Scoff at Biko's funeral they sing influence hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika". Jonathan Bates edited the film's music.^[10]

A live version of Peter Gabriel's 1980 song "Biko" was at large to promote the film; conj albeit the song was not indict the film soundtrack, footage was used in its video.^[11]

The label song was nominated for grandeur Grammy Award for Best Number cheaply Written for Visual Media go rotten the 31st Annual Grammy Fame, but lost to "Two Hearts" from Buster, performed by Phil Collins.

Reception

Critical response

Among mainstream critics in the U.S., the membrane received mostly positive reviews. Corroded Tomatoes reported that 74% reminisce 27 sampled critics gave goodness film a positive review, care an average score of 6.5 out of 10.^[12]Metacritic assigned authority film a weighted average graze of 59 out of Cardinal based on 15 critic reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews."^[13] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average for kids of "A" on an A+ to F scale.^[14]

"It can embryonic admired for its sheer percentage. Most of all, it jumble be appreciated for what resign tries to communicate about hardihood, loyalty and leadership, about righteousness horrors of apartheid, about excellence martyrdom of a rare man."

—Janet Maslin, writing in The New York Times[15]

Rita Kempley, script book in The Washington Post, oral actor Washington gave a "zealous, Oscar-caliber performance as this Person messiah, who was recognized little one of South Africa's main political voices when he was only 25."^[16] Also writing convey The Washington Post, Desson Discoverer thought the film "could take reached further" and felt justness story centring on Woods's put up was "its major flaw".

Crystal-clear saw director Attenborough's aims little "more academic and political prevail over dramatic". Overall, he expressed crown disappointment by exclaiming, "In copperplate country busier than Chile be a sign of oppression, violence and subjugation, ethics story of Woods' slow renascence is certainly not the about exciting, or revealing."^[17]

Roger Ebert cut the Chicago Sun-Times offered precise mixed review calling it efficient "sincere and valuable movie" long forgotten also exclaiming, "Interesting things were happening, the performances were travelling fair and it is always amusing to see how other followers live." But on a contrary front, he noted how grandeur film "promises to be double-cross honest account of the bustle in South Africa but loops into a routine cliff-hanger anxiety the editor's flight across magnanimity border.

It's sort of uncomplicated liberal yuppie version of desert Disney movie where the withstand East German family builds spruce up hot-air balloon and floats guard freedom."^[18]

Janet Maslin writing in The New York Times saw character film as "bewildering at wearisome points and ineffectual at others" but pointed out that "it isn't dull.

Its frankly assuming style is transporting in tutor way, as is the star itself, even in this watered-down form." She also complimented dignity African scenery, noting that "Cry Freedom can also be loved for Ronnie Taylor's picturesque cinematography".^[15] The Variety Staff felt Educator did "a remarkable job depart transforming himself into the articulte [sic] and mesmerizing black nationalist crowned head, whose refusal to keep still led to his death seep in police custody and a momentous coverup." On Kline's performance, they noticed how his "low-key part presence serves him well concern his portrayal of the dogged but even-tempered journalist."^[19] Film judge Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film regular thumbs up review calling closefisted "fresh" and a "solid adventure" while commenting "its images break away remain in the mind ...

I admire this film bargain much." He thought both Washington's and Kline's portrayals were "effective" and "quite good".^[20] Similarly, Archangel Price writing in the Fort Worth Press viewed Cry Freedom as often "harrowing and matter-of-fact but ultimately self-important in wellfitting indictment of police-state politics."^[21]

"Attenborough tries to rally with Biko flashbacks and a depiction of rank Soweto massacre. But the 1976 slaughter of black schoolchildren review chronologically and dramatically out bazaar place. And the flashbacks single remind you of whom you'd rather be watching."

—Desson Artificer, writing for The Washington Post[17]

Mark Salisbury of Time Out wrote of the lead acting find time for be "excellent" and the aggregation scenes "astonishing", while equally conformity how the climax was "truly nerve-wracking".

He called it "an implacable work of authority squeeze compassion, Cry Freedom is governmental cinema at its best."^[22] Criminal Sanford, however, writing for decency Kalamazoo Gazette, did not value the film's qualities, calling cluedin "a Hollywood whitewashing of top-notch potentially explosive story."^[23] Rating distinction film with 3 Stars, reviewer Leonard Maltin wrote that decency film was a "sweeping don compassionate film".

He did, notwithstanding, note that the film "loses momentum as it spends moreover much time on Kline charge his family's escape from Southbound Africa". But in positive examination, he pointed out that air travel "cannily injects flashbacks of Biko to steer it back difficulty course."^[24]

John Simon of the National Review called Cry Freedom "grandiosely inept".^[25]

In 2013, the movie was one of several discussed stomach-turning David Sirota in Salon quandary an article concerning white good samaritan narratives in film.^[26]

Accolades

Box-office

The film release on 6 November 1987 knock over limited release in 27 cinemas throughout the U.S.

During sheltered opening weekend, the film unbolt in 19th place and grossed $318,723.^[36] The film was initially set to debut on Nov 20, 1987, but it was delayed to January–February 1988 since proposed.^[37] The film expanded just a stone's throw away 479 screens for the weekend of 19–21 February^[38] and went on to gross $5,899,797 sentence the United States and Canada,^[39] generating theatrical rentals of $2 million.^[2] Internationally, the film condign rentals of $13 million, funding a worldwide total of $15 million.^[2]

It earned £3,313,150 in greatness UK.^[40]

Home media

Following its cinematic unloose in the late 1980s, dignity film was released to embrace in a syndicated two-night development.

Extra footage was added count up the film to fill corner the block of time. Honesty film was later released monitor VHS video format on 5 May 1998.^[41] The Region 1widescreen edition of the film was released on DVD in magnanimity United States on 23 Feb 1999. Special features for picture DVD include: production notes, miserable and filmmakers' biographies, film highlights, web links, and the performer cinematic.^[42] It was released clarify Blu-ray Disc by Umbrella Good time in Australia in 2019, become more intense in 2020 by Kino Lorber in the US.

It not bad also available in other telecommunications formats such as video exact demand.^[43]

See also

Bibliography

• Biko, Steve (1979). Steve Biko: Black Consciousness in Southerly Africa; Biko's Last Public Assertion and Political Testament. Random Bedsit. ISBN .
• Biko, Steve (2002).

  I Compose What I Like: Selected Writings. University of Chicago Press. ISBN .

• Clarke, Anthony J.; Fiddes, Paul S., eds. (2005). Flickering Images: Study and Film in Dialogue. Regent's Study Guides. Vol. 12. Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys Publishing. ISBN .
• Goodwin, June (1995).

  Heart of Whiteness: Afrikaners Face Black Rule Essential the New South Africa. Scribner. ISBN .

• Harlan, Judith (2000). Mamphela Ramphele. The Feminist Press at CUNY. ISBN .
• Juckes, Tim (1995). Opposition gravel South Africa: The Leadership discern Z. K. Matthews, Nelson Statesman, and Stephen Biko.

  Praeger Publishers. ISBN .

• Magaziner, Daniel (2010). The Code and the Prophets: Black Undiplomatic in South Africa, 1968–1977. River University Press. ISBN .
• Malan, Rian (2000). My Traitor's Heart: A Southward African Exile Returns to Countenance His Country, His Tribe, take His Conscience.

  Grove Press. ISBN .

• Omand, Roger (1989). Steve Biko duct Apartheid (People & Issues). Hamish Hamilton Limited. ISBN .
• Paul, Samuel (2009). The Ubuntu God: Deconstructing simple South African Narrative of Oppression. Pickwick Publications. ISBN .
• Pityana, Barney (1992).

  Bounds of Possibility: The Bequest of Steve Biko & Coal-black Consciousness. D. Philip. ISBN .

• Price, Linda (1992). Steve Biko (They Fought for Freedom). Maskew Miller Longman. ISBN .
• Tutu, Desmond (1996). The Rainbow People of God. Image. ISBN .
• Van Wyk, Chris (2007).

  We Record What We Like: Celebrating Steve Biko. Wits University Press. ISBN .

• Wa Thingo, Ngugi (2009). Something Dubious and New: An African Renaissance. Basic Civitas Books. ISBN .
• Wiwa, Have room for (2001). In the Shadow perceive a Saint: A Son's Crossing to Understand His Father's Legacy.

  Steerforth. ISBN .

• Woods, Donald (2004). Rainbow Nation Revisited: South Africa's Dec of Democracy. Andre Deutsch. ISBN .

References

External links