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Cry Freedom Play Trailer

Cry Freedom (1987)

tomatometer

67

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 2

No consensus yet.

audience

85

liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 9,130

My Rating

Movie Info

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

PG,

Art House & International, Drama

Feb 23, 1999

MCA Universal Home Video

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Cry Freedom Trailer & Photos

Critic Reviews for Cry Freedom

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (4) | DVD (1)

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.

June 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An implacable work of authority and compassion, Cry Freedom is political cinema at its best.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Mark Salisbury
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Cry Freedom is a sincere and valuable movie, and despite my fundamental reservations about it, I think it probably should be seen.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Biko was unflappable, logical and witty in life, and Washington conveys that solidity onscreen.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As a biopic, anti-Apartheid chronicle, the film is mediocre, but the young Denzel Washington is excellent, rendering an Oscar-nominated performance.

June 10, 2011 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

One of the best films to come out of the 1980s. Simply amazing.

July 23, 2008
Clint Morris
Moviehole

A historical document as well as powerful, disturbing drama

June 8, 2006
Steve Crum
Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

Sincere and movie - but not enough Denzel.

November 11, 2005
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Often harrowing and naturalistic but ultimately self-important in its indictment of police-state politics.

June 3, 2005
Michael H. Price
Fort Worth Business Press Source: Fort Worth Business Press

One of the best films of 1987 with its searing condemnation of racism and violence in South Africa.

July 10, 2003 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

a Hollywood whitewashing of a potentially explosive story

July 29, 2002
James Sanford
Kalamazoo Gazette
View all critic reviews (21)

Audience Reviews for Cry Freedom

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Great Acting, very moving story.
March 2, 2008
Chiefilms
Lenny Muggsy

Super Reviewer

Typically worthy and well-made biopic of Steven Biko and his death at the hands of the racist south african regime from Richard Attenborough. The first half of the film featuring the man himself played by Denzel in one of his best roles works better, as we get to know the man and his motives. It's harder to care about Kline's attempts to escape the country in the wake of Biko's death, but it's still fascinating stuff.
March 22, 2007
garyX
xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

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