The Power of One

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The Power of One

PG-13

1992

1h 51m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

35%

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17 Reviews

87%

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5,000+ Ratings

It's the 1930s, and as the people he cares for die or leave his village, young South African P.K. bonds with much older Doc (Armin Mueller-Stahl). A foreigner, Doc is detained when World War II starts, but from his prison cell he encourages P.K. to learn boxing. As he travels to different bouts, the adult P.K. (Stephen Dorff) forges relationships that anger the state's apartheid government -- but his reunion with his onetime schoolyard nemesis (Daniel Craig) may offer his biggest challenge yet.

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Variety Staff

Variety

05/20/2008

Beautifully produced and gorgeously shot on location in Zimbabwe by lenser Dean Semler, picture has depth, dimension and first-rate casting.

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Derek Adams

Time Out

02/09/2006

Avildsen draws good performances from the three actors who play PK, as well as from the ever-reliable Freeman and Mller-Stahl, but subtlety is abandoned when he focuses on the ring and teen romance.

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

08/30/2004

1.5/5

The film's facile treatment of racial issues may be enough to bring back the practice of throwing tomatoes at the screen.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

06/30/2005

2/5

Daniel M. Kimmel

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

07/08/2004

3/5

Randy Shulman

Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

01/29/2004

4/5

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JT J

@Thatthing Mar 29

Absolutely amazing coming of age story. Inspired me to start boxing.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Jul 12

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Scott W

@RT57361544 Jul 9

Butchery of a Great novel, and Courtenay was apparently involved.

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J N

@RT88134703 06/10/2025

For an early 90s film, it has its flaws here and there, but overall its quality storytelling with decent acting.

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Dylan C

@RT58173672 11/04/2024

great movie, would highly recommend

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic 07/10/2024

A movie with a strong inspirational message with a genuine story of the history of south Africa. The rewatch ability and entertainment value of this film however is extremely low in my book. A one and done deal.

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John G. Avildsen

Director

Stephen Dorff

P.K. Age 18

Armin Mueller-Stahl

Doc

Morgan Freeman

Geel Piet

John Gielgud

St. John

Maria Marais

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Synopsis

It's the 1930s, and as the people he cares for die or leave his village, young South African P.K. bonds with much older Doc (Armin Mueller-Stahl). A foreigner, Doc is detained when World War II starts, but from his prison cell he encourages P.K. to learn boxing. As he travels to different bouts, the adult P.K. (Stephen Dorff) forges relationships that anger the state's apartheid government -- but his reunion with his onetime schoolyard nemesis (Daniel Craig) may offer his biggest challenge yet.

Director: John G. Avildsen
Producer: Arnon Milchan
Screenwriter: Robert Mark Kamen
Production Co: New Regency Productions, Canal+, Village Roadshow Pictures, Alcor Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 27, 1992, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.7M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Surround