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starring: Denzel Washington, Kevin Kline, Josette Simon, Wabei Siyolwe, John Matshikizadirected by: Richard Attenborough
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 0047897807633
Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC
Label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Publisher: Universal Studios
Release Date: May 05, 1998
Running Time: 157 minutes
Sales Rank: 19418
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: November 06, 1987
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video:
Sir Richard Attenborough (Gandhi) directs this semi-successful drama about the relationship between South African black activist Steven Biko and a sympathetic newspaper editor (Kevin Kline). Attenborough's 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 Kline's character and the latter's efforts to escape the country with his family. That change is a tactical error in the script that robs the film of its initial power and makes the arguably unfortunate choice of emphasizing the destiny of a white character when Biko himself deserved an entire feature for his story and causes. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Honest and Powerful.
This is a difficult show to watch, but one that compels you to stay with it until the end. We are studying African history currently in one of our competitive academic teams, and this one left all of us, my students included, speechless. This is a must watch, but be prepared to have some silent reflection time afterwards.
Rating: - Denzel IS Stephen Biko!
When I was a high school English teacher and read and discussed "Cry, the Beloved Country" with my seniors, I always showed "Cry Freedom" in conjunction. Students were mesmerized. While the novel was set in South Africa with apartheid partly responsible for the crime that takes place, apartheid is as much a major character as Stephen Biko or Donald Woods in the movie.
In case you are confused, "Cry, the Beloved Country" is the lyrical novel by Alan Paton, published in 1948 and set in ... Read More
Rating: - incredible
I am sad to say that I disappointed myself by only watching half of this movie. I had to watch it in my World Lit class and of course, being a senior, I had the attitude that I didn't want to watch something that was filmed before i was even born, plus I wanted to sleep :P, after watching it for three days with more than an hour left of the movie, I decided to pay attention. The last half was so good! I felt so bad that I missed the whole first half, because I was left somewhat confused as to who ... Read More
Rating: - Cry Freedom
I enjoy the story of Stephen Biko very much. I loved the movie about how his story got out.
Rating: - High School Seniors' Comments
J.E. Gotowos (teacher of EFL, German, and drama):
I recently had the students of an English major senior high school class, that I am teaching, in Hamburg, Germany, watch Richard Attenborough's movie "Cry Freedom." Here are their first responses and reviews, which I asked them to come up with:
FIREWORK OF EMOTION
The movie is totally rousing and not boring for a minute, though we had a lot of backround-information about the cruel situation in South Africa.
We were emotionally ... Read More
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