Cry Freedom (1987)

South African journalist Donald Woods is forced to flee the country after attempting to investigate the death in custody of his friend the black activist Steve Biko.

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

John Briley (screenplay), Donald Woods (books)

Stars:

Josette Simon, Wabei Siyolwe, Kevin Kline

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Josette Simon	...	Dr. Ramphele
Wabei Siyolwe	...	Tenjy
John Matshikiza	...	Mapetla
Juanita Waterman	...	Ntsiki Biko
Evelyn Sithole	...	Nurse at clinic
Xoliswa Sithole	...	Nurse at clinic
James Coine	...	Young boy
Kevin Kline	...	Donald Woods
Kevin McNally	...	Ken
Albert Ndinda	...	Alec
Andrew Whaley	...	Sub-Editor
Shelley Borkum	...	Woods' receptionist
Denzel Washington	...	Steve Biko
Penelope Wilton	...	Wendy Woods
Kate Hardie	...	Jane Woods

Storyline

Donald Woods is chief editor of the liberal newspaper Daily Dispatch in South Africa. He has written several editorials critical of the views of Steve Biko. But after having met him for the first time, he changes his opinion. They meet several times, and this means that Woods and his family get attention from the security police. When Steve Biko dies in police custody, he writes a book about Biko. The only way to get it published is for Woods himself to illegally escape the country.

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Plot Keywords:

south africa | journalist | newspaper | editor | activist | 

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Taglines:

The true story of the friendship that shook South Africa and awakened the world

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 November 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grito de libertad

Filming Locations:

Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe

Box Office

Budget:

$29,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$5,899,797 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Marble Arch Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

157 min 147 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Denzel Washington was cast for the role of Biko after Richard Attenborough saw him in an episode of St. Elsewhere.

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Goofs

Although the film is set in South Africa, circa 1977, one of the buses arriving at Steve Biko's funeral plainly bears advertising for Charon's - a Zimbabwean brand of sweets not known in South Africa.

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Quotes

Steve Biko: We are going to change South Africa. What we've got to decide is the best way to do that. And as angry as we have the right to be, let us remember that we are in the struggle to kill the idea that one kind of man is superior to another kind of man. And killing that idea is not dependent on the white man. We must stop looking to him to give us something. We have to fill the black community with our own pride. We have to teach our black children black history, tell them about our black heroes, ...

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Crazy Credits

Preceding the final credits is a list of other detainees who died in the custody of the South African police. Steven Biko's name appears on the list.

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Connections

Featured in Classified X (1998)

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Soundtracks

"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika"

User Reviews

I cried! Recommend you rent this movie...

Cry Freedom was such a touching, unforgettable film. The acting was amazing, and they picked the perfect cast. I watched this at my school last year for the first time, and the first scene made me want to cry! Cry Freedom made me laugh, cry, confused, and made me just want to scream at those people who treated blacks cruelly! I recommend you rent this movie. 10/10