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Cry Freedom

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Cry Freedom
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard Attenborough
Screenplay byJohn Briley
Based onBikoand
Asking for Trouble
byDonald Woods
Produced byRichard Attenborough
Starring
CinematographyRonnie Taylor
Edited byLesley Walker
Music byGeorge Fenton
Jonas Gwangwa
Production
company
Marble Arch Productions
Distributed byUniversal Pictures(United States)
United International Pictures(International)
Release dates
  • 6 November 1987(1987-11-06)(United States)
  • 26 November 1987(1987-11-26)(United Kingdom)
Running time
157 minutes
Country
    • United Kingdom[1]
    • United States[1]
LanguagesEnglish
Afrikaans
Xhosa
Zulu
Sesotho
Budget$29 million
Box office$15 million(theatrical rentals)[2]

Cry Freedomis a 1987epicbiographicaldramafilm directed and produced byRichard Attenborough,set in late-1970sapartheid-eraSouth Africa.The screenplay was written byJohn Brileybased on a pair of books by journalistDonald Woods.The film centres on the real-life events involving South African activistSteve Bikoand his friend Woods, who initially finds him too radical, and attempts to understand his way of life.Denzel Washingtonstars as Biko, whileKevin Klineportrays Woods.Penelope Wiltonco-stars as Woods' wifeWendy.Cry Freedomdelves into the ideas of discrimination, political corruption, and the repercussions of violence.

A joint collective effort to commit to the film's production was made byUniversal Picturesand Marble Arch Productions and the film was primarily shot on location inZimbabwedue to not being allowed to film in South Africa at the time of production. It was commercially distributed by Universal Pictures, opening in theUnited Stateson 6 November 1987. South African authorities unexpectedly allowed the film to be screened in cinemas without cuts or restrictions, despite the publication of Biko's writings being banned at the time of its release.[3]

The film was generally met with favourable reviews and earnedtheatrical rentalsof $15 million worldwide. The film was nominated for multiple awards, includingAcademy Awardnominations forBest Supporting Actor(for Washington),Best Original Score,andBest Original Song.It was nominated for sevenBAFTA Awards,includingBest FilmandBest Direction,and wonBest Sound.

Plot

[edit]

Following a news story depicting the demolition of a slum inEast Londonin the south-east of theCape ProvinceinSouth Africa,liberalwhite South AfricanjournalistDonald Woodsseeks more information about the incident and ventures off to meet theanti-Apartheidblack activistSteve Biko,a leading member of theBlack Consciousness Movement.Biko has been officiallybannedby thegovernmentand is not permitted to leave his defined 'banning area' atKing William's Town.Woods is opposed to Biko's banning, but remains critical of his political views. Biko invites Woods to visit a blacktownshipto see the impoverished conditions and to witness the effect of the Government-imposed restrictions, which make up theapartheidsystem. Woods begins to agree with Biko's desire for a South Africa where blacks have the same opportunities and freedoms as those enjoyed by thewhite population.As Woods comes to understand Biko's point of view, a friendship slowly develops between them.

After speaking at a gathering of black South Africans outside of his banishment zone, Biko is arrested and interrogated by the South African security forces (who have been tipped off by an informer). Following this, he is brought to court in order to explain his message directed toward the South African Government, which iswhite minority-controlled.After he speaks eloquently in court and advocates non-violence, the security officers who interrogated him visit his church and vandalise the property. Woods assures Biko that he will meet with a Government official to discuss the matter. Woods then meets withJimmy Kruger(John Thaw), the South African Minister of Justice, in his house inPretoriain an attempt to prevent further abuses. Minister Kruger first expresses discontent over their actions; however, Woods is later harassed at his home by security forces, who insinuate that their orders came directly from Kruger.

Later, Biko travels toCape Townto speak at a student-run meeting.En route,security forces stop his car and arrest him asking him to say his name, and he said "BantuStephen Biko ". He is held in harsh conditions and beaten, causing a severe brain injury. A doctor recommends consulting a nearby specialist in order to best treat his injuries, but the police refuse out of fear that he might escape. The security forces instead decide to take him to a police hospital inPretoria,around 700 miles (1 200 km) away from Cape Town. He is thrown into the back of a prison van and driven on a bumpy road, aggravating his brain injury and resulting in his death.

Woods then works to expose the police's complicity in Biko's death. He attempts to expose photographs of Biko's body that contradict police reports that he died of ahunger strike,but he is prevented just before boarding a plane to leave and informed that he is now 'banned', therefore not able to leave the country. Woods and his family are targeted in a campaign of harassment by the security police, including bullets fired into the family home, vandalism, and the delivery of t-shirts with Biko's image that have been dusted withitching powder.He later decides to seek asylum inBritainin order to expose the corrupt and racist nature of the South African authorities. After a longtrek,Woods is eventually able to escape to theKingdom of Lesotho,disguised as a priest. His wifeWendyand their family later join him. With the aid of Australian journalistBruce Haigh,theBritish High CommissioninMaseru,and theGovernment of Lesotho,they are flown underUnited Nations passportsand with one Lesotho official over South African territory, viaBotswana,toLondon,where they were grantedpolitical asylum.

The film's epilogue displays a graphic detailing a long list of anti-apartheidactivists (including Biko), who died under suspicious circumstances while imprisoned by the Government whilst the songNkosi Sikelel' iAfrikais sung.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]
Racial-demographic map of South Africa in the late 1970s.

The premise ofCry Freedomis based on the true story ofSteve Biko,the charismatic South AfricanBlack Consciousness Movementleader who attempts to bring awareness to the injustice ofapartheid,andDonald Woods,theliberalwhite editor of theDaily Dispatchnewspaper who struggles to do the same after Biko is murdered. In 1972, Biko was one of the founders of theBlack People's Conventionworking on social upliftment projects aroundDurban.[4]The BPC brought together almost 70 different black consciousness groups and associations, such as the South African Student's Movement (SASM), which played a significant role in the 1976 uprisings, and the Black Workers Project, which supported black workers whose unions were not recognised under the apartheid regime.[4]Biko's political activities eventually drew the attention of the South African Government which often harassed, arrested, and detained him. These situations resulted in his being 'banned' in 1973.[5]The banning restricted Biko from talking to more than one person at a time, in an attempt to suppress the rising anti-apartheid political movement. Following a violation of his banning, Biko was arrested and later killed while in the custody of theSouth African Police(the SAP). The circumstances leading to Biko's death caused worldwide anger, as he became a martyr and symbol of black resistance.[4]As a result, the South African Government 'banned' a number of individuals (including Donald Woods) and organisations, especially those closely associated with Biko.[4]TheUnited Nations Security Councilresponded swiftly to the killing by later imposing anarms embargoagainst South Africa.[4]After a period of routine harassment against his family by the authorities, as well as fearing for his life,[6]Woods fled the country after being placed underhouse arrestby the South African Government.[6]Woods later wrote a book in 1978 entitledBiko,exposing police complicity in his death.[5]That book, along with Woods's autobiographyAsking For Trouble,both being published in theUnited Kingdom,became the basis for the film.[5]

Filming

[edit]

Every exterior (outdoor) scene was filmed inZimbabwe,as were roughly 70% of interior shots. The remaining interior shots were all filmed inEngland.[7]Principal filming took place primarily inHarareinZimbabwebecause of the tense political situation inSouth Africaat the time of shooting.[8]

The film includes a dramatised depiction of theSoweto uprisingwhich occurred on 16 June 1976. Indiscriminate firing by police killed and injured hundreds of black African schoolchildren during a protest march.[5]

Music

[edit]

The original motion picture soundtrack forCry Freedomwas released byMCA Recordson 25 October 1990.[9]It features songs composed by veteran musiciansGeorge Fenton,Jonas Gwangwaand Thuli Dumakude. At Biko's funeral they sing the hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika".Jonathan Bates edited the film's music.[10]

A live version ofPeter Gabriel's 1980 song "Biko"was released to promote the film; although the song was not on the film soundtrack, footage was used in itsvideo.[11]

The title song was nominated for theGrammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Mediaat the31st Annual Grammy Awards,but lost to "Two Hearts"fromBuster,performed byPhil Collins.

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

Among mainstream critics in the U.S., the film received mostly positive reviews.Rotten Tomatoesreported that 74% of 27 sampled critics gave the film a positive review, with an average score of 6.5 out of 10.[12]Metacriticassigned the film a weighted average score of 59 out of 100 based on 15 critic reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[13]Audiences polled byCinemaScoregave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.[14]

"It can be admired for its sheer scale. Most of all, it can be appreciated for what it tries to communicate about heroism, loyalty and leadership, about the horrors of apartheid, about the martyrdom of a rare man."
—Janet Maslin, writing inThe New York Times[15]

Rita Kempley, writing inThe Washington Post,said actor Washington gave a "zealous, Oscar-caliber performance as this African messiah, who was recognized as one of South Africa's major political voices when he was only 25."[16]Also writing forThe Washington Post,Desson Howethought the film "could have reached further" and felt the story centring on Woods's character was "its major flaw". He saw director Attenborough's aims as "more academic and political than dramatic". Overall, he expressed his disappointment by exclaiming, "In a country busier thanChilewith oppression, violence and subjugation, the story of Woods' slow awakening is certainly not the most exciting, or revealing. "[17]

Roger Ebertin theChicago Sun-Timesoffered a mixed review calling it a "sincere and valuable movie" while also exclaiming, "Interesting things were happening, the performances were good and it is always absorbing to see how other people live." But on a negative front, he noted how the film "promises to be an honest account of the turmoil in South Africa but turns into a routine cliff-hanger about the editor's flight across the border. It's sort of a liberal yuppie version of thatDisney moviewhere the brave East German family builds a hot-air balloon and floats to freedom. "[18]

Janet Maslinwriting inThe New York Timessaw the film as "bewildering at some points and ineffectual at others" but pointed out that "it isn't dull. Its frankly grandiose style is transporting in its way, as is the story itself, even in this watered-down form." She also complimented the African scenery, noting that "Cry Freedomcan also be admired for Ronnie Taylor's picturesque cinematography ".[15]TheVariety Stafffelt Washington did "a remarkable job of transforming himself into the articulte [sic] and mesmerizing black nationalist leader, whose refusal to keep silent led to his death in police custody and a subsequent coverup." On Kline's performance, they noticed how his "low-key screen presence serves him well in his portrayal of the strong-willed but even-tempered journalist."[19]Film criticGene Siskelof theChicago Tribunegave the film athumbs upreview calling it "fresh" and a "solid adventure" while commenting "its images do remain in the mind... I admire this film very much." He thought both Washington's and Kline's portrayals were "effective" and "quite good".[20]Similarly, Michael Price writing in theFort Worth PressviewedCry Freedomas often "harrowing and naturalistic but ultimately self-important in its indictment of police-state politics."[21]

"Attenborough tries to rally with Biko flashbacks and a depiction of the Soweto massacre. But the 1976 slaughter of black schoolchildren is chronologically and dramatically out of place. And the flashbacks only remind you of whom you'd rather be watching."
—Desson Howe, writing forThe Washington Post[17]

Mark Salisbury ofTime Outwrote of the lead acting to be "excellent" and the crowd scenes "astonishing", while equally observing how the climax was "truly nerve-wracking". He called it "an implacable work of authority and compassion,Cry Freedomis political cinema at its best. "[22]James Sanford, however, writing for theKalamazoo Gazette,did not appreciate the film's qualities, calling it "a Hollywood whitewashing of a potentially explosive story."[23]Rating the film with3 Stars,criticLeonard Maltinwrote that the film was a "sweeping and compassionate film". He did, however, note that the film "loses momentum as it spends too much time on Kline and his family's escape from South Africa". But in positive followup, he pointed out that it "cannily injects flashbacks of Biko to steer it back on course."[24]

John Simonof theNational ReviewcalledCry Freedom"grandiosely inept".[25]

In 2013, the movie was one of several discussed byDavid SirotainSalonin an article concerningwhite saviour narratives in film.[26]

Accolades

[edit]
Award[27][28] Category Nominee Result
Academy Awards[29] Best Supporting Actor Denzel Washington Nominated
Best Original Score George FentonandJonas Gwangwa Nominated
Best Original Song "Cry Freedom" – George Fenton and Jonas Gwangwa Nominated
Berlin Film Festival[30] Peace Film Award Richard Attenborough Won
Guild of German Film Theaters Won
British Academy Film Awards[31] Best Film Cry Freedom Nominated
Best Direction Richard Attenborough Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role John Thaw Nominated
Best Cinematography Ronnie Taylor Nominated
Best Editing Lesley Walker Nominated
Best Original Score George Fenton and Jonas Gwangwa Nominated
Best Sound Jonathan Bates,Simon KayeandGerry Humphreys Won
Golden Globe Awards[32] Best Motion Picture – Drama Cry Freedom Nominated
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Denzel Washington Nominated
Best Director – Motion Picture Richard Attenborough Nominated
Best Original Score – Motion Picture George Fenton and Jonas Gwangwa Nominated
Grammy Awards[33] Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television "Cry Freedom" – George Fenton and Jonas Gwangwa Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Video from a Film Peter Gabriel– "Biko" Nominated
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Motion Picture Cry Freedom Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Denzel Washington Won
National Board of Review Awards[34] Top 10 Films Cry Freedom 6th Place
Political Film Society Awards[35] Human Rights Won

Box-office

[edit]

The film opened on 6 November 1987 in limited release in 27cinemasthroughout the U.S.. During its opening weekend, the film opened in 19th place and grossed $318,723.[36]The film was originally set to debut on November 20, 1987, but it was delayed to January–February 1988 as proposed.[37]The film expanded to 479 screens for the weekend of 19–21 February[38]and went on to gross $5,899,797 in theUnited StatesandCanada,[39]generatingtheatrical rentalsof $2 million.[2]Internationally, the film earned rentals of $13 million, for a worldwide total of $15 million.[2]

It earned £3,313,150 in the UK.[40]

Home media

[edit]

Following its cinematic release in the late 1980s, the film was released to television in asyndicatedtwo-night broadcast. Extra footage was added to the film to fill in the block of time. The film was later released inVHSvideo format on 5 May 1998.[41]TheRegion 1widescreenedition of the film was released onDVDin the United States on 23 February 1999. Special features for the DVD include; production notes, cast and filmmakers' biographies, film highlights, web links, and the theatrical cinematic.[42]It was released onBlu-rayDisc by Umbrella Entertainment inAustraliain 2019, and in 2020 byKino Lorberin the US. It is also available in other media formats such asvideo on demand.[43]

See also

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Biko, Steve (1979).Steve Biko: Black Consciousness in South Africa; Biko's Last Public Statement and Political Testament.Random House.ISBN978-0-394-72739-4.
  • Biko, Steve (2002).I Write What I Like: Selected Writings.University of Chicago Press.ISBN978-0-226-04897-0.
  • Clarke, Anthony J.; Fiddes, Paul S., eds. (2005).Flickering Images: Theology and Film in Dialogue.Regent's Study Guides. Vol. 12. Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys Publishing.ISBN1-57312-458-3.
  • Goodwin, June (1995).Heart of Whiteness: Afrikaners Face Black Rule In the New South Africa.Scribner.ISBN978-0-684-81365-3.
  • Harlan, Judith (2000).Mamphela Ramphele.The Feminist Press at CUNY.ISBN978-1-55861-226-6.
  • Juckes, Tim (1995).Opposition in South Africa: The Leadership of Z. K. Matthews, Nelson Mandela, and Stephen Biko.Praeger Publishers.ISBN978-0-275-94811-5.
  • Magaziner, Daniel (2010).The Law and the Prophets: Black Consciousness in South Africa, 1968–1977.Ohio University Press.ISBN978-0-8214-1918-2.
  • Malan, Rian (2000).My Traitor's Heart: A South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe, and His Conscience.Grove Press.ISBN978-0-8021-3684-8.
  • Omand, Roger (1989).Steve Biko and Apartheid (People & Issues).Hamish Hamilton Limited.ISBN978-0-241-12640-0.
  • Paul, Samuel (2009).The Ubuntu God: Deconstructing a South African Narrative of Oppression.Pickwick Publications.ISBN978-1-55635-510-3.
  • Pityana, Barney (1992).Bounds of Possibility: The Legacy of Steve Biko & Black Consciousness.D. Philip.ISBN978-1-85649-047-4.
  • Price, Linda (1992).Steve Biko (They Fought for Freedom).Maskew Miller Longman.ISBN978-0-636-01660-6.
  • Tutu, Desmond (1996).The Rainbow People of God.Image.ISBN978-0-385-48374-2.
  • Van Wyk, Chris (2007).We Write What We Like: Celebrating Steve Biko.Wits University Press.ISBN978-1-86814-464-8.
  • Wa Thingo, Ngugi (2009).Something Torn and New: An African Renaissance.Basic Civitas Books.ISBN978-0-465-00946-6.
  • Wiwa, Ken (2001).In the Shadow of a Saint: A Son's Journey to Understand His Father's Legacy.Steerforth.ISBN978-1-58642-025-3.
  • Woods, Donald (2004).Rainbow Nation Revisited: South Africa's Decade of Democracy.Andre Deutsch.ISBN978-0-233-00052-7.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"Cry Freedom (1987)".BFI Collections.Retrieved18 July2024.
  2. ^abc"Foreign Vs. Domestic Rentals".Variety.11 January 1989. p. 24.
  3. ^Battersby, John D. (28 November 1987)."Pretoria Censors to Let 'Cry Freedom' Be Seen".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.
  4. ^abcde"Stephen Bantu (Steve) Biko".About.com. Archived fromthe originalon 10 December 2008.Retrieved20 June2010.
  5. ^abcd"Stephen Bantu Biko".South African History Online. Archived fromthe originalon 6 June 2011.Retrieved15 June2010.
  6. ^ab1978: Newspaper editor flees South Africa.BBC.Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  7. ^https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/06/movies/review-film-cry-freedom.html
  8. ^Hill, Geoff (2005) [2003].The Battle for Zimbabwe: The Final Countdown.Johannesburg: Struik Publishers. p. 77.ISBN978-1-86872-652-3.
  9. ^"Cry Freedom: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack".Amazon.20 March 1987.Retrieved15 June2010.
  10. ^"Cry Freedom".Yahoo! Movies.Retrieved15 June2010.
  11. ^Bowman, Durrell (2 September 2016).Experiencing Peter Gabriel: A Listener's Companion.Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 93.ISBN9781442252004.Retrieved12 September2017.
  12. ^Cry Freedom (1987).Rotten Tomatoes.IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  13. ^"Cry Freedom".Metacritic.
  14. ^"CinemaScore".CinemaScore.Archivedfrom the original on 20 December 2018.
  15. ^abMaslin, Janet (6 November 1987).Cry Freedom.The New York Times.Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  16. ^Kempley, Rita (6 November 1987).Cry Freedom.The Washington Post.Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  17. ^abHowe, Desson (6 November 1987).Cry Freedom.The Washington Post.Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  18. ^Ebert, Roger (6 November 1987).Cry FreedomArchived28 February 2013 at theWayback Machine.Chicago Sun-Times.Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  19. ^Variety Staff (1 January 1987).Cry Freedom.Variety.Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  20. ^Siskel, Gene (6 November 1987).Cry Freedom[permanent dead link].At the Movies.Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  21. ^Price, Michael (6 November 1987). Cry Freedom.Fort Worth Press.Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  22. ^Salisbury, Mark (6 November 1987).Cry FreedomArchived7 June 2011 at theWayback Machine.Time Out.Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  23. ^Sanford, James (6 November 1987). Cry Freedom.Kalamazoo Gazette.Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  24. ^Maltin, Leonard (5 August 2008).Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide.Signet. p. 301.ISBN978-0-452-28978-9.
  25. ^Simon, John (2005).John Simon on Film: Criticism 1982-2001.Applause Books. p. 178.
  26. ^Sirota, David (21 February 2013)."Oscar loves a white savior".Salon.Retrieved14 May2014.
  27. ^"Cry Freedom: Awards & Nominations".MSN Movies. Archived fromthe originalon 23 September 2012.Retrieved15 June2010.
  28. ^"Cry Freedom (1987)".Yahoo! Movies.Retrieved15 June2010.
  29. ^"Nominees & Winners for the 60th Academy Awards".Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2010.Retrieved15 June2010.
  30. ^"Cry Freedom".Berlin International Film Festival.Retrieved15 June2010.
  31. ^"Cry Freedom".BAFTA.org.Retrieved15 June2010.
  32. ^"Cry Freedom".GoldenGlobes.org. Archived fromthe originalon 2 August 2012.Retrieved15 June2010.
  33. ^"31st Annual Grammy Award Highlights".National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.Retrieved15 June2010.
  34. ^"Awards for 1987".nbrmp.org. Archived fromthe originalon 10 October 2012.Retrieved15 June2010.
  35. ^"Previous Winners".Political Film Society. Archived fromthe originalon 28 October 2009.Retrieved15 June2010.
  36. ^"Cry Freedom".The Numbers.Retrieved15 June2010.
  37. ^"Universal Postpone Wide Break For 'Freedom'; Eyes Jan.-Feb".Variety.18 November 1987. p. 11.
  38. ^"Weekend Box Office Results for November 19–21, 1988".Box Office Mojo.Retrieved15 June2010.
  39. ^"Cry Freedom".Box Office Mojo.Retrieved15 June2010.
  40. ^"Back to the Future: The Fall and Rise of the British Film Industry in the 1980s - An Information Briefing"(PDF).British Film Institute.2005. p. 21.
  41. ^"Cry Freedom VHS Format".Amazon.5 May 1998.Retrieved15 June2010.
  42. ^"Cry Freedom: On DVD".MSN Movies. Archived fromthe originalon 27 April 2009.Retrieved15 June2010.
  43. ^"Cry Freedom: VOD Format".Amazon.Retrieved6 September2010.
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