Cry Freedom (1987)
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81% of critics liked it
(21 reviews) -
85% of users liked it
(9,130 ratings)
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… More 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
- Directed By
- Richard Attenborough
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
- In Theaters
- Nov 6, 1987 Wide
- Studio
- MCA Universal Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Washington does a remarkable job of transforming himself into the articulte and mesmerizing black nationalist leader, whose refusal to keep silent led to his death in police custody and a subsequent coverup.
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Mark Salisbury, Time Out
An implacable work of authority and compassion, Cry Freedom is political cinema at its best.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
These are fine methods for delivering a civics lesson, which to some extent is what the Attenborough approach is all about. But for a film that aspires to entertain as well as educate, they are less helpful.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Cry Freedom is a sincere and valuable movie, and despite my fundamental reservations about it, I think it probably should be seen.
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
In a country busier than Chile with oppression, violence and subjugation, the story of Woods' slow awakening is certainly not the most exciting, or revealing.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Kevin Kline
as Donald Woods
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Penelope Wilton
as Wendy Woods
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Denzel Washington
as Stephen Biko
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Kevin McNally
as Ken
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Timothy West
as Capt. de Wet
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Juanita Waterman
as Juanita/Ntsiki Biko
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John Hargreaves
as Bruce
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Alec McCowen
as Acting High Commissioner
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Zakes Mokae
as Father Kani
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Ian Richardson
as State Prosecutor
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Josette Simon
as Dr. Ramphele
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Miles Anderson
as Lemick
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Tommy Buson
as Tami
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Jim Findley
as Peter Jones
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Kate Hardie
as Jane Woods
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Alton Kumalo
as Speaker
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Louis Mahoney
as Lesotho Government Official
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Mawa Makondo
as Jason
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Joseph Marcell
as Moses
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Sophie Mgcina
as Evalina
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John Paul
as Wendy's Stepfather
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Wabei Slyolwe
as Tenjy
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Gwen Watford
as Wendy's Mother
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Andrew McCulloch
as Policeman Nel
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Graham Fletcher-Cook
as Nel's Partner
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Tony Vogel
as Roadblock Policeman
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James Aubrey
as Passport Control Officer
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Judy Cornwell
as Receptionist
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Nick Tate
as Ritchie
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Shelley Borkum
as Woods's Receptionist
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Niven Boyd
as Roadblock Policeman
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Carl Chase
as Policeman
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Julian Glover
as Don Card
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Hepburn Graham
as Soga
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David Guwaza
as Prisoner
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Garick Hagon
as McElrea
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John Hartley
as Passport Control Officer
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David Henry
as Afrikaner Farmer
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William Marlowe
as Police Captain at Soweto
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John Matshikiza
as Mapetla
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Robert Phillips
as Speaker at Funeral
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Simon Shumba
as Young Lesotho Official
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Gerald Sim
as Police Doctor
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Gwyneth Strong
as Girl at Funeral
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John Thaw
as Kruger
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David Trevena
as Mortician
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Michael Turner
as Judge Boshoff
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Buddy Uzzaman
as Mortician's Assistant
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Andrew Whaley
as Sub-Editor
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Gary Whelan
as Police Sergeant
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Peter Cartwright
as Senior Police Officer
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Paul Hertzberg
as Beukes
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Neil McPherson
as Lemick's Assistant
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Philip Bretherton
as Maj. Boshoff
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Peter Cary
as White Frontier Policeman
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Carlton Chance
as Rugby Player
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Basil Chidyamathamba
as Brother-in-Law
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Ruth Chinamando
as Mother
- James Young von Coine
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Michael Graham Cox
as Passport Control Officer
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Dudley Dickin
as Nationalist Party Delegate
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Karen Drury
as Young Secretary
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Angela Gavaza
as Shebeen Queen's Niece
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Patricia Gumede
as Shebeen Queen
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Kalie Hanekom
as Magistrate Prins
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Christopher Hurst
as Roadblock Policeman
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Russell Keith Hurst
as Security Guard
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Paul Jerricho
as Sgt. Louw
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Dominic Kanaventi
as Black Frontier Policeman
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Munyaradzi Kanaventi
as Samora Biko
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George Lovell
as Nkosinathi Biko
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Claude Maredza
as Rugby Player
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Peggy Marsh
as "Helen Suzman"
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Walter Matemavi
as Nephew
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Sam Mathambo
as Lesotho Passport Officer
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Kimpton Mativenga
as Black Security Policeman
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Tichatonga Mazhindu
as Dilima
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Robert McNamara
as Security Policeman
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Nocebo Miambo
as Aunt
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Hilary Minster
as Passport Control Officer
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Clement Muchachi
as Father
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Walter Muparutsa
as Lesotho Businessman
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Glen Murphy
as Security Guard
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Marcy Mushore
as Niece
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Star Ncube
as Prisoner
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Albert Ndinda
as Alec
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Marilyn Poole
as Acting High Commissioner's Wife
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Lawrence Simnbrashe
as Informer
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Xoliswa Sithole
as Nurse at Clinic
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Hans Sittig
as Security Policeman
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Graeme Taylor
as Dillon Woods
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Fishoo Tembo
as Biko's Brother
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Adam Stuart Walker
as Duncan Woods
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Hamish Stuart Walker
as Gavin Woods
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Spring Stuart Walker
as Mary Woods
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William Morgan Sheppard
as Policeman

