The Power of One (1992)

An English boy, living in Africa during World War II, through his boxing prowess, becomes a symbol of hope, in a time of war.

Director:

John G. Avildsen

Writers:

Bryce Courtenay (novel), Robert Mark Kamen (screenplay)

Stars:

Stephen Dorff, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Morgan Freeman

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nomadlozi Kubheka	...	Nanny
Agatha Hurle	...	Midwife
Nigel Ivy	...	P.K. Newborn
Tracy Brooks Swope	...	Mother
Brendan Deary	...	P.K. Infant
Winston Mangwarara	...	Tonderai Infant
Guy Witcher	...	P.K. Age 7
Tonderai Masenda	...	Tonderai
Cecil Zilla Mamanzi	...	Ranch Foreman
John Turner	...	Afrikaner Minister
Robbie Bulloch	...	Jaapie Botha
Gordon Arnell	...	Minister at Mother's Funeral
Jeremiah Mnisi	...	Dabula Manzi
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Doc
Paul Tingay	...	Grandfather

Storyline

The Power of One is an intriguing story of a young English boy named Peekay and his passion for changing the world. Growing up he suffered as the only English boy in an Afrikaans school. Soon orphaned, he was placed in the care of a German national named Professor von Vollensteen (a.k.a. "Doc"), a friend of his grandfather. Doc develops Peekay's piano talent and Peekay becomes "assistant gardener" in Doc's cactus garden. It is not long after WWII begins that Doc is placed in prison for failure to register with the English government as a foreigner. Peekay makes frequent visits and meets Geel Piet, an inmate, who teaches him to box. Geel Piet spreads the myth of the Rainmaker, the one who brings peace to all of the tribes. Peekay is cast in the light of this myth. After the war Peekay attends an English private school where he continues to box. He meets a young girl, Maria, with whom he falls in love. Her father, Professor Daniel Marais, is a leader of the Nationalist Party of South ...

---

Plot Keywords:

africa | bare chested male | urination | shower | defecation | 

---

Taglines:

An exhilarating epic of a triumph of the heart.

---

Genres:

Drama | Sport

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some areas of strong violence

Details

Country:

Australia France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 March 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Poder de um Jovem

Filming Locations:

UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$2,827,107

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alcor Films, Canal+, Regency Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie's storyline featured story elements related to boxing. Director John G. Avildsen had previously directed Rocky (1976) and The Karate Kid (1984), two movies which were publicized in slogans and taglines for The Power of One (1992) declaring that the movie was "From the Academy Award-winning director of ROCKY and THE KARATE KID". Avildsen also directed The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and Rocky V (1990), with the latter two titles being shot in consecutive years. In total, of these above-mentioned titles, Avildsen has directed three karate titles and three boxing titles, totalling to six heavyweight movie titles in this genre altogether.

---

Goofs

When PK's character goes from 12 to 18 years old, the caption is "Johannesburg 1948". After the classroom scene and as PK and Morrie are walking past the fountain after the art lesson, Morrie says, "...as the Queen has for boules..." In 1948, George VI was the monarch. Elizabeth II, his daughter, did not ascend to the throne until 1952, four years later. However, the wife of a British King is known as the "Queen". Therefore, Morrie may have been referring to George VI's wife, Queen Elizabeth (later known as "The Queen Mother" after her daughter ascended to the throne).

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Title Card: In the 1680s, Dutch, French and Germans fled religious persecution in Europe and settled in Southern Africa. They called themselves the Afrikaners. White Africans. / For the next 250 years, the British Empire fought the Afrikaners for control of the land, the gold and 20 million Native Africans. / In 1948, a conservative Afrikaner government was voted into power. A system of segregation first introduced by the English was declared the law of the land. / The English never gave the ...

---

Connections

References Romeo and Juliet (1933)

---

Soundtracks

Inkunzi
Performed by The Masibemunye Bulawayo Choir

User Reviews

Movie certainly not up to par with the fantastic book

The Power Of One is based on a novel by the very talented Bryce Courtenay. The sequel novel,Tandia, which picks up right where The Power of One left off is equally moving and compelling reading.I am promptly going to go out and read everything else he has written. Both The Power of One and Tandia have moved me beyond words. I am a white South African girl who spent 19 years of my life in SA. I led a very privileged, sheltered childhood growing up in South Africa. I was just 15 when apartheid fell apart. My parents were not racist and in fact my father dedicated his life to working as a doctor in a very poor area but I still , unbelievably, never really had a very clear picture of the horror of apartheid until Mr Courtenay outlined it so vividly in these books.(as I said I was sheltered as a white child)I feel extraordinarily blessed and lucky to have directly avoided the violence and sickness that invaded my country for so long just because I was lucky enough to be born with white skin. I now live in the States but South Africa will always be home. I wept most of the way through both books. I have never been so moved in my life.Mr Courtenay summed up perfectly the collective guilt that white South Africans must carry with them forever more for our people's legacy of hate and brutality and oppression Even if we ourselves are not guilty - our people are guilty.He also, of course, inspires us to believe that one person can make a difference and that sanity,justice and compassion can win in the end even if the fight is long and hard.For those of you who think the characters are too stereotyped- in some aspects you are right. Not all Afrikaaners are the evil, racist villains that are portrayed in the books . However, I certainly encountered people growing up with unbelievable racism, fear and hate who do match some of the characters in the book.So there is truth to his characters also. I have no doubt that the brutality was accurate. One only has to look at historical events in SA history to confirm that. Thank you Mr Courtenay for your wonderful gift and for sharing it with the world.

As for the movie: I must admit it has been years since I happened upon it on television late at night. I do remember being quite swept up in the film but then being disappointed with the direction they chose to take it in. A Hollywood ending on what could have been a remarkable African movie.I do understand that film is a completely different medium and changes were necessary to adapt the book to film. Still I cannot help being disappointed with some of the changes that I deemed uneccessary such as the changing of Peekay's name from the wonderful, mystical"The Tadpole Angel" or "onoshobishobi ingelosi" to "The rainmaker" Come on! That's lame! The rainmaker?!That has none of the same feeling the other names invoke.The addition of the girlfriend just to give Peekay a love interest is unnecessary fluff and her character not well developed enough to warrant such an addition.Nonetheless, the film is still worth seeing.

I must say that I truly do hope that someone else re-makes this and does a better job.Tandia would make a fantastic film also. I am going to buy a copy on DVD and re-watch it and the post my thoughts here after refreshing it in my mind. I highly recommend reading both The Power Of One and Tandia to all interested in the history of apartheid in South Africa or just those looking for a good drama and a fascinating stories with strong characters.Even if you hate to read and are intimidated by the thought of reading such large books- just start- I guarantee you, you won't be able to put both these books down!If you haven't seen the film or read the books, I guess you should watch the film first. Otherwise you will be sorely disappointed and outraged at all the negative changes and you won't be able to truly enjoy the film for what it is: a nice attempt at an adaptation of a marvellous book.