Cry Freedom (1987)
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- PG
- 2h 37min
- Biography, Drama
- 06 Nov 1987 (USA)
- Movie
South African journalist Donald Woods is forced to flee the country after attempting to investigate the death in custody of his friend, the Black anti-Apartheid activist Steve Biko.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 13 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Josette Simon | ... |
Dr. Ramphele
(as Josettesimon-93556)
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Wabei Siyolwe | ... |
Tenjy
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| John Matshikiza | ... |
Mapetla
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Juanita Waterman | ... |
Ntsiki Biko
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Evelyn Sithole | ... |
Nurse at Clinic
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Xoliswa Sithole | ... |
Nurse at Clinic
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James Coine | ... |
Young Boy
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| Kevin Kline | ... |
Donald Woods
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| Kevin McNally | ... |
Ken
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Albert Ndinda | ... |
Alec
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Andrew Whaley | ... |
Sub-Editor
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| Shelley Borkum | ... |
Woods' Receptionist
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| Denzel Washington | ... |
Steve Biko
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| Penelope Wilton | ... |
Wendy Woods
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| Kate Hardie | ... |
Jane Woods
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Graeme Taylor | ... |
Dillon Woods
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Adam Stuart Walker | ... |
Duncan Woods
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Hamish Stuart Walker | ... |
Gavin Woods
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Spring Stuart Walker | ... |
Mary Woods
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Sophie Mgcina | ... |
Evalina
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| Jim Findley | ... |
Peter Jones
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Patricia Gumede | ... |
Shebeen Queen
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Angela Gavaza | ... |
Shebeen Queen's Niece
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Nocebo Mlambo | ... |
Aunt
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Walter Matemavi | ... |
Nephew
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Clement Muchachi | ... |
Father
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Ruth Chinamando | ... |
Mother
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Basil Chidyamathamba | ... |
Brother-in-Law
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Marcy Mushore | ... |
Niece
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Alton Kumalo | ... |
Speaker
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Lawrence Simbarashe | ... |
Informer
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| Timothy West | ... |
Captain De Wet
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| Carl Chase | ... |
Policeman
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| William Morgan Sheppard | ... |
Policeman
(as Morgan Sheppard)
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Tichatonga Mazhindu | ... |
Dilima
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| Zakes Mokae | ... |
Father Kani
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| John Thaw | ... |
Kruger
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| Miles Anderson | ... |
Lemick
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Neil McPherson | ... |
Lemick's Assistant
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Hepburn Graham | ... |
Soga
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Claude Maredza | ... |
1st Rugby Player
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Carlton Chance | ... |
2nd Rugby Player
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Glen Murphy | ... |
1st Security Guard
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| Russell Grant | ... |
2nd Security Guard
(as Russell Keith Grant)
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| Munyaradzi Kanaventi | ... |
Samora Biko
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George Lovell | ... |
Nkosinathi Biko
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| Andrew McCulloch | ... |
Policeman Nel
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| Graham Fletcher-Cook | ... |
Nel's Partner
(as Graham Fletcher Cook)
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Karen Drury | ... |
Young Secretary
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Niven Boyd | ... |
1st Roadblock Policeman
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| Tony Vogel | ... |
2nd Roadblock Policeman
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Christopher Hurst | ... |
3rd Roadblock Policeman
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| Gerald Sim | ... |
Police Doctor
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| Peter Cartwright | ... |
Senior Police Officer
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| Gary Whelan | ... |
Police Sergeant
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Dudley Dickin | ... |
Nationalist Party Delegate
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David Trevena | ... |
Mortician
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| Badi Uzzaman | ... |
Mortician's Assistant
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| Robert Phillips | ... |
Speaker at Funeral
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Fishoo Tembo | ... |
Biko's Brother
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Peggy Marsh | ... |
'Helen Suzman'
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| Gwyneth Strong | ... |
Girl at Funeral
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| Julian Glover | ... |
Don Card
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| John Hargreaves | ... |
Bruce
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| Philip Bretherton | ... |
Major Boshoff
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Paul Herzberg | ... |
Beukes
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| Robert MacNamara | ... |
Security Policeman
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Hans Sittig | ... |
Security Policeman
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Kimpton Mativenga | ... |
Black Security Policeman
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David Henry | ... |
Afrikaner Farmer
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| Michael Turner | ... |
Judge Boshoff
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| Ian Richardson | ... |
State Prosecutor
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Mawa Makondo | ... |
Jason
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Kalie Hanekom | ... |
Magistrate Prins
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| Paul Jerricho | ... |
Sergeant Louw
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Star Ncube | ... |
1st Prisoner
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David Guwaza | ... |
2nd Prisoner
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Tommy Buson | ... |
Tami
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| Joseph Marcell | ... |
Moses
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Hilary Minster | ... |
1st Passport Control Officer
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| James Aubrey | ... |
2nd Passport Control officer
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Peter Cary | ... |
White Frontier Policeman
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Dominic Kanaventi | ... |
Black Frontier Policeman
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Sam Mathambo | ... |
Lesotho Passport Officer
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Walter Muparutsa | ... |
Lesotho Businessman
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| Judy Cornwell | ... |
Receptionist
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| Alec McCowen | ... |
Acting High Commissioner
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| Gwen Watford | ... |
Wendy's Mother
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John Paul | ... |
Wendy's Stepfather
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| Louis Mahoney | ... |
Lesotho Government Official
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| Michael Graham Cox | ... |
3rd Passport Control Officer
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John Hartley | ... |
4th Passport Control Officer
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Simon Shumba | ... |
Young Lesotho Official
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| Garrick Hagon | ... |
McElrea
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| Nick Tate | ... |
Richie
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Marilyn Poole | ... |
Acting High Commissioner's Wife
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| William Marlowe | ... |
Police Captain at Soweto
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Emmanuel Chari | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Aubrey Moalusi | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Richard Attenborough | ||
Written by
| Donald Woods | ... | (based on 'Biko' by) |
| Donald Woods | ... | (based on 'Asking for Trouble' by) |
| John Briley | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Richard Attenborough | ... | producer |
| John Briley | ... | co-producer |
| Terence A. Clegg | ... | executive producer in charge of production (as Terence Clegg) |
| Norman Spencer | ... | co-producer |
Music by
| George Fenton | ||
| Jonas Gwangwa | ||
Cinematography by
| Ronnie Taylor | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Lesley Walker | ||
Editorial Department
| Jeremy Hume | ... | first assistant editor |
| Kevin Lane | ... | second assistant editor |
| Andrew Melhuish | ... | editorial trainee |
| Mark Harris | ... | trainee assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Steve Maguire | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Susie Figgis | ||
Production Design by
| Stuart Craig | ||
Art Direction by
| Norman Dorme | ... | supervising art director |
| John King | ||
| George Richardson | ... | supervising art director |
Set Decoration by
| Michael Seirton | ||
Costume Design by
| John Mollo | ||
Makeup Department
| Daniel Galvin Senior | ... | hair colour consultant: Mr. Kline (as Daniel Galvin) |
| Paula Gillespie | ... | hair stylist |
| Susan Haines | ... | makeup assistant |
| Beryl Lerman | ... | makeup artist |
| Vera Mitchell | ... | hair stylist |
| Wally Schneiderman | ... | makeup supervisor |
| Nick Dudman | ... | prosthetics supplier (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Allan James | ... | production manager |
| Gerry Levy | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Edwin Angless | ... | assistant director: second unit |
| Roy Button | ... | assistant director |
| Stephen Chigorimbo | ... | co-first assistant director (as Steve Chigorimbo) |
| Steve Fillis | ... | assistant director |
| Steve Harding | ... | assistant director: second unit |
| Patrick Kinney | ... | assistant director |
| Nikolas Korda | ... | assistant director: second unit |
| Peter MacDonald | ... | second unit director |
| Sue Sheldon | ... | third assistant director |
| Clive Stafford | ... | third assistant director |
| David Tomblin | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Michael Bacon | ... | chargehand stand-by props |
| Terence Benson | ... | foreman |
| Gavin Bocquet | ... | assistant art director |
| Jonathan Croesier | ... | construction buyer |
| Ian Giladjian | ... | buyer |
| Ron Higgins | ... | props: second unit |
| Brian Humphrey | ... | dressing prop |
| Roz Knight | ... | draper |
| Derek Knowler | ... | storeman |
| Bert Long | ... | assistant construction manager |
| Ian Mulder | ... | assistant construction manager |
| John Palmer | ... | dressing prop |
| Michael Philips | ... | draughtsman (as Mike Phillips) |
| Reg Richards | ... | construction manager |
| Lloyd Searle | ... | buyer |
| Bill Welch | ... | construction manager |
| Terry Wells Jr. | ... | stand-by prop |
| Terry Wells | ... | prop master |
| Tony Wright | ... | sketch artist |
| Martin Duffy | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Dave Midson | ... | stand-by props (uncredited) |
| Adrian Start | ... | supervising painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Jonathan Bates | ... | sound |
| Michael Crouch | ... | dialogue editor (as Mike Crouch) |
| John Frankel | ... | assistant dubbing mixer (as Jonathan Frankel) |
| Taffy Haines | ... | sound maintenance |
| Dean Humphreys | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Gerry Humphreys | ... | sound |
| Simon Kaye | ... | sound |
| Chris Kelly | ... | footsteps editor |
| Steve Maguire | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Brian Mann | ... | dialogue editor |
| Tommy Staples | ... | boom operator |
| Len Tremble | ... | assistant sound editor |
Special Effects by
| Martin Gant | ... | senior special effects technician |
| David Harris | ... | special effects supervisor |
| Paul Knowles | ... | special effects technician |
| Gift Nyamandi | ... | special effects technician |
| Alan Poole | ... | special effects technician |
| Gerry Johnston | ... | special effects supervisor (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Peter Brace | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Valentino Musetti | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jody Boulting | ... | special photographer: second unit |
| Tony Buckthorpe | ... | electrician |
| Steve Burgess | ... | clapper loader |
| John Campbell | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| David Chiganze | ... | grip |
| Eddie Collins | ... | camera operator |
| Frank Connor | ... | still photographer |
| Adam Cooper | ... | clapper loader: second unit |
| Mathew Kausasa | ... | electrician |
| Steve Kitchen | ... | gaffer: second unit |
| Jason Lehel | ... | focus puller |
| Peter MacDonald | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Peter Malunga | ... | grip |
| Alan Martin | ... | gaffer |
| Cephas Mathimba | ... | electrician |
| Dave McWhinney | ... | electrician (as Dave McWhinnie) |
| Simon Mein | ... | still photographer |
| Ricky Miller | ... | electrician |
| Dave Moore | ... | best boy |
| Luke Quigley | ... | grip: second unit |
| David Rattenbury | ... | camera focus: second unit |
| Richard Tindall | ... | camera trainee |
| Jimmy Waters | ... | chief grip |
| Nigel Seal | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| Stephen Williams | ... | camera operator: rostrum camera (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Liz James | ... | crowd casting |
| Andrew Whaley | ... | casting: Zimbabwe |
| Abi Cohen | ... | casting assistant (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ken Crouch | ... | wardrobe master (as Kenny Crouch) |
| Elaine Dawson | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Andres Fernandez-Sotillos | ... | wardrobe assistant (as Andres Fernandez Sotillos) |
| Lisa Johnson | ... | wardrobe mistress |
| Virginia Mkiza | ... | wardrobe assistant |
Location Management
| Nandi Bowe | ... | assistant location manager |
| Rory Kilalea | ... | location manager |
| Kim Shaw | ... | location nurse / location secretary |
Music Department
| George Fenton | ... | conductor / music arranger: score |
| Ken Freeman | ... | musician: synthesizers |
| Keith Grant | ... | music recordist |
| Isobel Griffiths | ... | orchestral contractor |
| Peter Whitehouse | ... | additional orchestrator |
| Mark Berrow | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Skaila Kanga | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Jonathan Williams | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Nikki Clapp | ... | script supervisor |
| Annie Penn | ... | continuity: second unit (as Anne Wotton) |
Transportation Department
| Lazarus Chingore | ... | unit driver |
| Arthur Dunne | ... | transportation manager |
| Paul Fisher | ... | transportation captain |
| Vic Floyd | ... | unit driver |
| Moncton Mutswairo | ... | transportation coordinator: second unit |
Additional Crew
| Craig Barwick | ... | accounts: second unit |
| Gillian Dobias | ... | publicity specialist |
| Eliah Fero | ... | cashier |
| Diana Hawkins | ... | marketing director |
| Clare Howard | ... | assistant: Richard Attenborough |
| Marianne Jacobs | ... | production secretary |
| Marj Joscelyne | ... | production secretary |
| Hamilton Zoule Keke | ... | additional consultant |
| Leila Kirkpatrick | ... | production assistant |
| Majakathata Mokoena | ... | additional consultant |
| Christopher J. O'Hare | ... | film school attachment |
| Christine Samways | ... | deputy accountant |
| Matthew Scudamore | ... | floor runner |
| Mick Snell | ... | production runner |
| Keith Stack | ... | unit doctor (as Dr. Keith Stack) |
| Dalindlela Tambo | ... | special advisor to director |
| Judy Thornton | ... | production coordinator |
| John Trehy | ... | financial controller |
| Alison Webb | ... | publicity secretary |
| Zuzanne Whitehead | ... | publicity secretary |
| Mike Widd | ... | location accountant (as Michael Widd) |
| Betty Williams | ... | studio accountant |
| Donald Woods | ... | principal consultant |
| Wendy Woods | ... | principal consultant |
Production Companies
- Universal Pictures (present)
- Marble Arch Productions (producer)
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1987) (United States) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1987) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1988) (France) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1988) (Japan) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1988) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (1988) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1989) (Greece) (VHS)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Encore Avenue (2009) (Canada) (tv)
- KSM (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2018) (Australia) (DVD)
- Universal Films of India (1990) (India) (theatrical) (Bombay)
- Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
- Disney Channel (1995) (United States) (tv) (as The Disney Channel)
- Kino Lorber (2020) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- NBC Universal Entertainment (2022) (Japan) (Blu-ray)
- NHK Kyôiku (1996) (Japan) (tv)
- NHK-BS2 (1991) (Japan) (tv)
- TNT (1997) (United States) (tv)
- Universal Pictures (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Shepperton Studios (movie studio)
- Audiolink Radio Communications (walkie talkies)
- Geoff Axtell Associates (titles and optical effects)
- The Goverment of Zimbabwe (thanks)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) is chief editor of the liberal newspaper "Daily Dispatch" in South Africa. He has written several editorials critical of the views of Steve Biko (Denzel Washington). But after having met him for the first time, he changes his opinion. They meet several times, and this means that Woods and his family get attention from the Security Police. When Steve Biko dies in Police custody, he writes a book about Biko. The only way to get it published is for Woods to illegally escape the country. Written by Mattias Thuresson |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The true story of the friendship that shook South Africa and awakened the world See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $29,000,000 (estimated) |
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $25,899,797 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The filmmakers intended to shoot in South Africa as early as October 1986, with permission from select prominent figures, including Oliver Tambo and Winnie Mandela. After interviewing Mandela, the production crew was placed under surveillance by the South African security police and followed everywhere. They were eventually forced to leave South Africa. Also, the South African Broadcasting Corp. (SABC) deliberately misinterpreted producer/director Richard Attenborough's decision to shoot the movie in October, and instead broadcast the "news" of his starting a revolution sponsored by Russia. See more » |
| Goofs | When the Woods family are on the beach planning their getaway (supposedly the beach close to East London, South Africa) the "sea" has vegetation growing out of it (trees, branches etc.). No filming could take place in South Africa at the time, so this scene was filmed at Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Biko: Breaking the Silence (1987). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Preceding the final credits is a list of other detainees who died in the custody of the South African police. Steven Biko's name appears on the list. See more » |
| Quotes |
State Prosecutor:
But your own words demand for DIRECT CONFRONTATION! Steve Biko: That's right, we demand confrontation. State Prosecutor: Isn't that a demand for violence? Steve Biko: Well, you and I are now in confrontation, but I see no violence. See more » |