| Major Cast | |
|---|---|
| Kevin Kline | as Donald Woods |
| Penelope Wilton | as Wendy Woods |
| Josette Simon | as Dr. Ramphele |
| Andrew Whaley | as Sub-editort |
| Wabei Siyolwe | as Tenjy |
| John Matshikiza | as Mapetle |
| Juanita Waterman | as Ntsiki Biko |
| Albert Ndinda | as Alec |
| Shelley Borkum | as Woods' receptionist |
| Kate Hardie | as Jane Woods |
| MPAA Rating: | PG |
| Distributor: | Universal Pictures |
| Production Company: | Marble Arch Productions |
| Release Date (US): | November 1987 |
| Domestic Box Office (IMDB): | $5,899,797 |
| Foreign Box Office: | $? |
| Production Budget: | $29,000,000 (Est.) |
Steve Biko was a black man working for justice in South Africa. He made the risky decision to travel outside his home territory to attend a meeting in Cape Town. Leaving your home territory was a serious crime in apartheid South Africa. He was arrested at a checkpoint. On 12 September 1977 he was found dead in his cell with massive trauma to his body, including brain damage that led to kidney failure. The official cause of death: "hunger strike."1
Donald Woods (1933-2001) was editor of South Africa's Daily Dispatch and an opponent of apartheid. He became friends with Biko and after his murder published photographs of his body in the Dispatch. Woods later wrote a biography of the activist, titled Biko. Monitored 24/7 by the police, forbidden to associate with anyone other than family, and followed everywhere he went, Woods had no chance to publish the book in his home country. Eventually he decided to escape with the manuscript and, disguised as a priest, set out on a risky journey to the north. His wife and children drove to her parents, there to await a phone call from him at a prearranged time. This would determine whether or not they too tried to leave the country.
Like many fact-based dramas, this film takes some liberties with the nature and sequence of events to enhance the dramatic tension. However, its depiction of the main facts of the story is accurate. It spares little in showing us how the National Party of South Africa treated its majority black citizens, and how it harassed those whites who dared to speak out. The result is a harrowing account which is hard to watch — but one which is worth watching.
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 chief production crew was tailed continuously by the S.A police and was forced to leave South Africa. Also, the SABC at that time deliberately misinterpreted Richard Attenborough's decision of shooting the film in October and instead broadcast the news of him starting a revolution sponsored by Russia.
My Rating:
10 out of 10
Capsule review: This harrowing and riveting account makes it absolutely clear why South African Apartheid incurred the world's anger.
| IMDB Rating: 7.5 | Raters: 9,869 |
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