Cry Freedom Movie

80's Movie Facts for Cry Freedom

Summary

This 80’s movie, which is set in South Africa, chronicles a friendship between two people with different lifestyles and views. What started off as an investigation into the life of black activist Steve Biko, newspaper chief editor Donald Woods instead makes a friend for life. He later flees the country after Biko’s death in order to tell his story.

Cry Freedom DVD

Plot

The topic of apartheid and the struggles black activist Steve Biko endures to prevent it are captured on film in Cry Freedom. The film stars Denzel Washington, who plays an impressive Biko, who befriends newspaper chief editor, Donald Woods (played by Kevin Kline).

Cry Freedom is set in the 1970s in South Africa and follows the story of Woods and his wife, Wendy (played by Penelope Wilton), as they become friends with Biko before he is murdered by Government troops.

In Cry Freedom, the truth about Biko and what he stood for in life and death must be told, and Woods and his family leave town in order to spread the word about the anti-apartheid activist.

Cast

Donald Woods - Kevin Kline
Steve Biko - Denzel Washington
Dr Ramphele - Josette Simon
Tenjy - Wabei Siyolwe
Mapetla - John Matshikiza
Ntsiki Biko - Juanita Waterman
Nurst at Clinic - Evelyn Sithole
Nurse at Clinic - Xoliswa Sithole
Young Boy - James Coine
Ken - Kevin McNally
Alec - Albert Ndinda
Sub-Editor - Andrew Whaley
Woods’s receptionist - Shelly Borkum
Wendy Woods - Penelope Wilton
Jane Woods - Kate Hardie

Trivia

It was Denzel Washington’s impressive role as a doctor on TV's St Elsewhere that caught the attention of Cry Freedom director Richard Attenborough. As a result, he cast him as Biko in the movie.

Cry Freedom is a long film, so it was shown in two 80-minute parts at the movie theaters and shown in two parts a week apart on television.