Cry Freedom

Overview

"Richard Attenborough directed this dramatic story, based on actual events, about the friendship between two men struggling against apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s. Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) is a white liberal journalist in South Africa who begins to follow the activities of Stephen Biko (Denzel Washington), a courageous and outspoken black anti-apartheid activist. Woods and his wife Wendy (Penelope Wilton) get to know Biko, and they become friends, until Biko is brutally murdered at the hands of government troops in 1977 for his activities against the country's repression of the black majority population. Donald is shocked and appalled by Biko's murder and determined that the truth about Biko will become known to the world; eventually, Donald and Wendy Woods and their children must leave South Africa (and nearly everything they have) as they spread the word about Biko's life and death to ensure that he did not die in vain. Washington received an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Biko."

Product Details

Release Date:	02/23/1999
UPC:	0025192051623
Original Release:	1987
Rating:	PG
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:39:00
Sales rank:	6,701

Special Features

Production notes; Cast and filmmakers bios; Film highlights; Theatrical trailer; Web links

Editorial Reviews

Actor and director Richard Attenborough attempted to recreate the phenomenal success of his multiple Oscar-winning Gandhi (1982) with another socially conscious drama, Cry Freedom (1987). The film reunited many behind-the-scenes players from Gandhi, including the same writer, cinematographer, costume designer, and composer. Cry Freedom also mimicked the style and many of the liberal themes of Attenborough's earlier film. Despite these elements, a positive critical reception, and the fact that South African apartheid was an explosive geopolitical issue of the late eighties, Cry Freedom failed to repeat the box office triumph of Gandhi. The filmmakers' decision to make real-life white journalist Don Woods (played in the film by Kevin Kline) the main character, reducing to a supporting role the more historically important figure of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko (played by Denzel Washington), created some controversy and may have kept audiences away. Nevertheless, Washington received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Biko. The actor went on to win in the same category two years later for Glory (1989).