Cry Freedom

 

Overview
“Cry Freedom” is a 1987 epic biographical drama film directed by Richard Attenborough, focusing on the true story of South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko and his friendship with journalist Donald Woods. The film is set against the backdrop of apartheid-era South Africa in the late 1970s.

Plot Summary
The story begins with Donald Woods, a liberal white journalist and editor of the “Daily Dispatch,” who initially holds critical views of Biko’s radical approach to activism. However, after meeting Biko, he begins to understand and appreciate Biko’s vision for a more equitable South Africa where black citizens can enjoy the same rights as whites. Their friendship develops as Woods witnesses firsthand the harsh realities faced by black South Africans under apartheid.

As tensions rise, Biko is arrested and subjected to brutal treatment by security forces, leading to his tragic death while in custody. Following this event, Woods becomes determined to expose the truth about Biko’s death and the systemic violence perpetrated by the apartheid regime. Facing harassment from authorities, including threats against his family, Woods decides to flee South Africa in order to publish a book detailing Biko’s life and the injustices of apartheid.

Woods undertakes a perilous journey to escape to Lesotho, disguised as a priest. With assistance from various allies, including journalists and government officials, he successfully reaches London where he gains political asylum and publishes his works about Biko and apartheid.

The film concludes with an epilogue that highlights other anti-apartheid activists who suffered similar fates as Biko, underscoring the ongoing struggle against racial oppression in South Africa.

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