Cry Freedom

Theatrical Release Date: 1987 11 06 (USA)

UPC: 025192051623

Studio: Universal Studios

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Violence, Questionable for Children, Adult Language]

Summary: 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. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Drama

Awards: Best Picture – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Director – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Guild of German Film Theaters – Berlin International Film Festival Peace Film Prize Commendation – Berlin International Film Festival Best Picture - Drama – null Best Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Song – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Song – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – National Board of Review Best Supporting Actor – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association

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

Cry Freedom

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 02/23/1999

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cinemascope

Audio: DDS Dolby Digital Surround

Runtime: 159 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
0. Chapter List
1. Main Titles [4:45]
2. A Government Raid [:06]
3. An Honest Newsman [3:53]
4. Biko [4:13]
5. Real Black News [8:02]
6. Police Action [8:43]
7. The Intruders [8:25]
8. Captured [4:01]
9. The Martyr [4:49]
10. Threats [5:59]
11. A Banned Person [8:37]
12. The Last Straw [1:29]
13. Preparing To Go [6:31]
14. New Year's Eve [1:49]
15. Getting Across [4:16]
16. The Phone Call [6:26]
17. Welcome To Exile [2:39]
18. Epilogue/Titles [1:18]

Karl Williams

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). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Cast and Crew: David Guwaza  Actor 
Karen Drury  Actor 
Dominic Kanaventi  Actor 
Sam Mathambo  Actor 
Glen Murphy  Actor 
Graeme Taylor  Actor 
Julian Glover  Actor 
Neil McPherson  Actor 
Michael Graham Cox  Actor 
Russell Keith Hurst  Actor 
Peggy Marsh  Actor 
Clement Muchachi  Actor 
Xoliswa Sithole  Actor 
William Morgan Sheppard  Actor 
Niven Boyd  Actor 
John Matshikiza  Actor 
David Trevena  Actor 
Gary Whelan  Actor 
Carlton Chance  Actor 
Angela Gavaza  Actor 
Tichatonga Mazhindu  Actor 
Star Ncube  Actor 
Adam Stuart Walker  Actor 
John Hartley  Actor 
Gerald Sim  Actor 
Buddy Uzzaman  Actor 
Peter Cartwright  Actor 
Ruth Chinamando  Actor 
Kalie Hanekom  Actor 
Nocebo Miambo  Actor 
Marilyn Poole  Actor 
Spring Stuart Walker  Actor 
Shelley Borkum  Actor 
Garick Hagon  Actor 
William Marlowe  Actor 
Robert Phillips  Actor 
John Thaw  Actor 
Hepburn Graham  Actor 
Gwyneth Strong  Actor 
Andrew Whaley  Actor 
Peter Cary  Actor 
Munyaradzi Kanaventi  Actor 
Kimpton Mativenga  Actor 
Marcy Mushore  Actor 
Fishoo Tembo  Actor 
Philip Bretherton  Actor 
Dudley Dickin  Actor 
Paul Jerricho  Actor 
Walter Matemavi  Actor 
Walter Muparutsa  Actor 
Hans Sittig  Actor 
Carl Chase  Actor 
Simon Shumba  Actor 
Michael Turner  Actor 
Basil Chidyamathamba  Actor 
Patricia Gumede  Actor 
George Lovell  Actor 
Robert McNamara  Actor 
Albert Ndinda  Actor 
Hamish Stuart Walker  Actor 
David Henry  Actor 
Paul Hertzberg  Actor 
James Young von Coine  Actor 
Christopher Hurst  Actor 
Claude Maredza  Actor 
Hilary Minster  Actor 
Lawrence Simnbrashe  Actor 
Richard Attenborough  Director 
Richard Attenborough  Producer 
John Briley  Screenwriter 
Terence A. Clegg  Executive Producer 
Terence A. Clegg  Producer 
George Fenton  Composer (Music Score) 
Jonas Gwangwa  Composer (Music Score) 
Kevin Kline  Actor 
Penelope Wilton  Actor 
Denzel Washington  Actor 
Kevin McNally  Actor 
Timothy West  Actor 
Juanita Waterman  Actor 
John Hargreaves  Actor 
Alec McCowen  Actor 
Zakes Mokae  Actor 
Ian Richardson  Actor 
Josette Simon  Actor 
Miles Anderson  Actor 
Tommy Buson  Actor 
Jim Findley  Actor 
Kate Hardie  Actor 
Alton Kumalo  Actor 
Louis Mahoney  Actor 
Mawa Makondo  Actor 
Joseph Marcell  Actor 
Sophie Mgcina  Actor 
John Paul  Actor 
Wabei Slyolwe  Actor 
Gwen Watford  Actor 
Andrew McCulloch  Actor 
Graham Fletcher-Cook  Actor 
Tony Vogel  Actor 
James Aubrey  Actor 
Judy Cornwell  Actor 
Nick Tate  Actor 

Country: UK,USA