The legacy of steve biko antiapartheid activist stephen biko was a strong fighter for black equality whose actions and untimely death would bring an end to apartheid in south africa. Mar 04, 2004 the prison film project is at the national film theatre, london, until sunday, then at glasgow film theatre on may 79, and the midlands arts centre on october 1517. Although woods is doesnt agree with bikos denzel washington views, he is staunchly against the south african government and its. After a while, biko went with wood to a clinic far away from zanempiko, which biko and other black doctors have built. Cry freedom is the story of donald woods kevin kline, editor of daily despatch, a liberal newspaper in east london, south africa and his historic friendship with steven biko denzel washington, one of the most respected freedom fighters of south africa. Fearing for his familys safety, he decides to smuggle them over the. Dec 14, 2016 cry freedom 1987 director richard attenborough couldnt quite do for martyred south african activist steven biko what he did for gandhi with this apartheidera drama, but dont blame. Biko stood up for his people and wasnt afraid to face the treatment given. Woods is critical of biko, but will soon change his mind when he realises all biko wants is justice for the oppressed majority of. Example research essay topic film analysis of cry freedom. Start studying theology cry freedom character list. The work that you will be doing on the film cry freedom looks at the background to the film and also at the ways in which feature films deal with real events. The movie is set in south africa under the apartheid regime. Ken robertson, another journalist, gave him photos of the raid and he.
Summary ch 3 and 4 of cry freedom by john briley rayd. Cry freedom licensed to youtube by adrev for a 3rd party on behalf of universal pictures film music. The following video is how the funeral for steve biko was portrayed in the movie cry freedom. The film centres on the reallife events involving black activist steve biko and his friend donald woods, who. Coverage of the death was scarce and reflected what the government of south. Cry freedom is a 1987 britishsouth african epic drama film directed by richard attenborough, set in late1970s apartheid era south africa. A factbased drama about the life of south african activist, steven biko. Nov, 2012 in actual footage taken at the funeral, the similarities are very apparent. A main character in the film cry freedom directed and produced by richard attenborough was donald woods.
The film is also shows consciousness, racial hatred and many other issues. These 3 minutes of the film are also some of the most authentic. The film was based on the true story written by donald wood, also one of the main characters in the film. The film was shot in neighbouring zimbabwe, and, although not. Cry freedom cry freedom is a real life drama recorded as a movie. Cry freedom was a movie that took place in south africa in the 1970s. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Cry freedom is a 1987 feature film directed by richard attenborough, set in the late 1970s, during the apartheid era of south africa. Theology cry freedom character list flashcards quizlet. Cry freedom is a film directed by richard attenborough. Cry freedom is a 1987 film, directed by richard attenborough and starring denzel washington and kevin kline the story revolves around the life of black antiapartheid activist stephen bantu steve biko washington and his friendship with the white journalist and antiapartheid activist donald woods kline in late 1970s south africa. Ultimately, attenboroughs cry freedom is a difficult film to understand. Attenboroughs typical sweep of the life and times of biko is particularly rewarding in the first half of the film, but once the leader comes to his untimely end at the hands of white police, the story shifts entirely to klines character and the latters. One morning he gets news of a police raid in the black township crossroads that lies in cape town. The first thing that we need to consider is the difference between what is expected by an audience of a feature film and what is expected by an audience of a text on politics. It is based on a book, asking for trouble, biko, written by donald woods.
Journalist donald woods kevin kline is editor of the largest paper in south africa. Attenborough shows his bias point of view through out the film. Great memorable quotes and script exchanges from the cry freedom movie on. The film is centered around the brutality used by the white man and the death of black activist steve biko. Cry freedom begins with the story of a friendship between a white liberal south african editor and an idealistic young black leader who later. One of the best films of 1987 with its searing condemnation of racism and violence in south africa.
Only stony hearts wont be moved by attenboroughs vivid, if occasionally sentimental, evocation of. Before they meet, in the days when south africa still had apartheid, newspaper editor donald woods and political activist steve biko are on opposite sides of the fence. Richard attenborough makes a mandela of steve biko. Oppression one of the main themes this film focuses on is the defense against the unjust system and the fight for freedom. Sir richard attenborough is a chivalric filmmaker with a passion for great men, and cry freedom, the storyof south african activist stephen biko, is a heraldic pageant about such a hero.
This is the death of stephen bantu biko as portrayed in the movie cry freedom. Black doctors and black workers run the clinic, only for black people, funded poorly by black people. With denzel washington, kevin kline, josette simon, wabei siyolwe. Jun 27, 2004 a main character in the film cry freedom directed and produced by richard attenborough was donald woods. This essay examines the film cry freedom, set in the late 1970s, which was directed by sir richard attenborough in 1987. Richard attenborough makes a mandela of steve biko attenboroughs drama gives us a saintly martyr in place of a vibrant hero. Cry freedom is not a great movie its an earnest, clunky, awkward one without a fluid sense of story and with its most charismatic figure, the martyred black south african activist, bantu stephen biko, gone before the film s 2 hours and 35 minutes are half over. Cry freedom is a worthwhile watch, but you will be shocked by the level of cruelty done by the s, african government at that time.
Donald woods is the editor of the east london daily express and steve biko is a young black leader struggling to improve life in the townships. It was during the time that anc african national congress had been banned. Cry freedom is not a great movie its an earnest, clunky, awkward one without a fluid sense of story and with its most charismatic figure, the martyred black south african activist, bantu stephen biko, gone before the films 2 hours and. The movie was set in south africa and was release november 6, 1987 by universal pictures. 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. Fearing for his familys safety, he decides to smuggle them over the border. The two form an unlikely friendship but when biko is taken into police custody and then murdered, woods is placed under house arrest.
Yet cry freedom makes relatively little of this, and in fact makes relatively little of steve biko himself, allowing him to disappear before the film is even half over. They all live together in a huge mansion with a pool in the yard. While woods was around biko reporting what was happening, biko invited woods to go see one of the impoverished black township so he could see where black people in south africa lived. Knut striak cry freedom intro analysis of the first part the first shots of the intro of the film cry freedom, based on the same named book by steven riley and the personal experiences of the journalist woods, show a black screen with the. The event covered almost a span of one month, the 18th of august 1977 through the 12th of september 1977. Even the casket in the film is a match to the actual casket in the real funeral footage. The prison film project is at the national film theatre, london, until sunday, then at glasgow film theatre on may 79, and the midlands arts centre on. Cry freedom, the movie, is a lifechanging movie and you must see it. Woods still think that black and whites could and should. The analysis will focus on the way the movie critically evaluates the political ideology that dominates the. One of the main themes this film focuses on is the defense against the unjust system and the fight for freedom.
You take it with a glass of water and you feel better about your social consciousness in the morning. The analysis will focus on the way the movie critically evaluates. Cry freedom is a 1987 british drama film directed by richard attenborough, set in the late 1970s, during the apartheid era of south africa. In actual footage taken at the funeral, the similarities are very apparent. Angelica zambrano rober miller history 232201 november 27, 2017 cry freedom film analysis cry freedom is a movie based on true events that was released in november of 1987. Problems in south africa apartheid the south african apartheid lasted from the. Take your hr comms to the next level with prezi video. Film analysis of cry freedom cry freedom is a film directed by richard attenborough. Steve biko and donald woods are both represented well throughout the film as they are determined to fight the apartheid. The screenplay was written by john briley based on a pair of books by journalist donald woods. So this movie, honouring a black hero who staked his identity on refusing to conform to white liberal. This drama has a running time of 157 minutes and was given a pg rating by mpaa. Watch cry freedom online stream full movie directv.
Woods is critical of biko, but will soon change his mind when he realises all biko wants is. The film centres on the reallife events involving black activist steve biko and his friend donald woods, who initially finds him destructive, and attempts to understand his way of life. For the film cry freedom 1987, he portrayed south african activist stephen biko, and he received an academy award nomination for best supporting actor. The film centres around the reallife events involving black activist steve biko and his friend donald. Our collection is growing every day with the help of many teachers. The story of steve biko came to be told thanks to one man who had the chance to use his authority to do something that only he could do.
Two years later he won the oscar for best supporting actor for his performance as a freed slave fighting in the union army in. Cry freedom is a 1987 epic drama film directed by richard attenborough, set in late1970s. Film analysis of cry freedom 1582 words 7 pages angelica zambrano rober miller history 232201 november 27, 2017 cry freedom film analysis cry freedom is a movie based on true events that was released in november of 1987. Cry freedom is a 1987 film, directed by richard attenborough and starring denzel washington and kevin kline the story revolves around the life of black antiapartheid activist stephen bantu steve biko washington and his friendship with the white journalist and antiapartheid activist donald woods kline in late 1970s south africa it was based on the books asking for. If we wished to focus our analysis on representing bikos thoughts or we were searching for a film which described his life or apartheid in south africa, we would have chosen the wrong film. The movies main character is steve biko played by the actor denzel washington, a man in his early thirties who has the ability to lead his people. It was written from a screenplay by john briley based on a pair of books by journalist donald woods. Donald woods is an editor of the daily dispatch, a journal in east london. Cry freedom is a 1987 epic drama film directed by richard attenborough, set in late1970s apartheid era south africa. Nov 06, 1987 yet cry freedom makes relatively little of this, and in fact makes relatively little of steve biko himself, allowing him to disappear before the film is even half over. But the black leader is dead and buried by the movies halfway point, and the rest of the story centers on the editors desire to escape south africa and publish a book. Cry freedom 1987 director richard attenborough couldnt quite do for martyred south african activist steven biko what he did for gandhi with. He must do it, he has been forever changed by his experienceand he succeeds, prompting us to succeed.
Jan 24, 20 ultimately, attenboroughs cry freedom is a difficult film to understand. Denzel washingtons movies ranked, from worst to best. The film is also shows consciousness, racial hatred. Cry freedom is the story of donald woods kevin kline, editor of daily despatch, a liberal newspaper in east london, south africa and his historic. Cry freedom cry from a crowd 10,000 wide hope laid upon hope that this crowd will not subside let this flag burn to dust and a new a fair design be raised while we wait head in hands hands in prayer and fall into a dreamless sleep again and we wave our hands hands and feet are all alike but gold between divide us hands and feet are all alike. Summary of cry freedom by john briley rayd alsayf blog. Nov 03, 2012 cry freedom licensed to youtube by adrev for a 3rd party on behalf of universal pictures film music. It is a movie about a journalist, donald woods, and a black activist, steve biko. Oct 25, 2008 cry freedom is a 1987 feature film directed by richard attenborough, set in the late 1970s, during the apartheid era of south africa. But the black leader is dead and buried by the movie s halfway point, and the rest of the story centers on the editors desire to escape south africa and publish a book.