Cry Freedom
Cry Freedom

Movie spotlight

Cry Freedom

1981
Movie
70 min
English

Balogun's most political film is a confrontation with the African wars of liberation. Based on Carcase for Hounds, Meja Mwangi's novel about the Mau-Mau uprising, it is set in an unnamed country and thus offers the vision of a pan-African struggle for freedom and against colonial oppression. The central figures in the straightforwardly and powerfully told story are the guerrilla leader Haraka and his adversary, the English colonial official Kingsley. In the end, the film becomes a homage to the freedom fighters from all over Africa: the final images show Patrice Lumumba, Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela and Amílcar Cabral, among others.

Insights

IMDb7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes78%
Metacritic71/100
Google Users85%
Director: Richard AttenboroughGenres: Biography, Drama, History

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the friendship between white South African journalist Donald Woods and black activist Steve Biko. Woods, initially a moderate, becomes increasingly disillusioned with the apartheid regime as he witnesses its brutality firsthand, particularly after Biko's arrest and subsequent death. The narrative follows Woods's attempts to expose the truth about Biko's treatment and the injustices of apartheid to the world.

Critical Reception

Cry Freedom received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its powerful performances, particularly from Denzel Washington as Steve Biko, and its important message about the fight against apartheid. While some critics found the film's narrative structure somewhat conventional, its emotional impact and historical significance were widely acknowledged.

What Reviewers Say

  • Denzel Washington's commanding performance as Steve Biko is a standout.

  • The film is a moving and important portrayal of the struggle against apartheid.

  • While a conventional biopic structure, its emotional weight and historical context resonate.

Google audience: Audiences largely appreciated the film's historical significance and the powerful performances. Many found it an emotional and thought-provoking depiction of the fight against racial injustice in South Africa.

Awards & Accolades

Denzel Washington was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. The film received other nominations, including for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards.

Fun Fact

Kevin Kline won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for his role as Donald Woods, an award he shared with Denzel Washington, who also won for his portrayal of Steve Biko.

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