denzel washington
The true story of an Apartheid scandal
Imagine yourself in the height of apartheid, standing at a wire fence looking at the face of another on the other side. One white, one black. But not a single other difference.
This is how the main character in the 1987 movie Cry Freedom, Donald Woods, felt when he was looking into the injustices of the South African government.
Richard Attenborough’s historical thriller, based on a true story, is a film one should watch for a bit of enlightenment about this era. The entrancing story is the tale of journalist Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) who feels the need to learn the real truth about black settlements around his nation. During his journey, he meets black-activist Steve Biko (Denzel Washington), and soon befriends him, accepting him as one of his own. Biko has banned for his outspoken ideas, and thus when caught sneaking out of his settlement by an Afrikaner officer, he is bludgeoned to death. This incident was covered up by the police, and it was written that Biko had perished of a self-inflicted hunger strike. Woods, a rational and intelligent man, immediately suspects this is a lie, and springs into action.
The struggle for truth and justice is the theme of the movie, and it is well portrayed through the eyes of the character. While the beginning of the movie is a tad slow, it is still worth watching for the well-written dialogue and interesting information about the apartheid.
Rated PG for violence and brief language.
