Catch a Fire

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Catch a Fire

PG-13,

2006,

1h 42m,

Drama/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

75%

141 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

141 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Patrick Chamusso, an apolitical black South African who works at an oil refinery, becomes a freedom fighter for the ANC after a brutal run-in with a government terror squad. Patrick stages daring solo attacks against the apartheid regime, even as a policeman worms his way into the lives of Patrick and his family.

Critics Consensus

No stranger to the political thriller, director Phillip Noyce tackles apartheid and terrorism with experienced gusto, while Derek Luke and Tim Robbins hand in nuanced performances.

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Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

Jul 2, 2009

C

Noyce is now the favorite filmmaker of your local Amnesty International

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Paul Arendt

BBC.com

Mar 23, 2007

3/5

Featuring excllent performances from Luke and Robbins, Catch A Fire is a mature, thought provoking film.

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Dave Calhoun

Time Out

Mar 23, 2007

At its best when making the most of the conflicts at the heart of apartheid.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Sep 6, 2026

2.5/4

We naturally feel for these ill-treated characters, but it’s more of a Pavlovian reaction to the on-screen brutalities rather than anything served up in the conventional script.

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Annie Wagner

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

Mar 1, 2018

Given the complex motivations at play, it's unfortunate that the script doesn't go in for much psychology and wastes precious minutes halfway humanizing Patrick's Boer rival.

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Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

Mar 10, 2011

8/10

It doesn't quite have the adrenaline to be a great thriller, but Catch a Fire makes up for it with compelling characters and a genuinely important theme, skillfully told. There's not much else you can ask from a film than that.

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Harry G

Sep 13, 2018

it is a film that is inspirational and a little bit ashamed to be white. Whites have got a lot to answer for in their treatment of africans and this movie displays that very well.

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Theodore G

Mar 17, 2018

Incredible movie with interesting / confronting topic.

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Phillip Noyce

Director

Tim Robbins

Nic Vos

Derek Luke

Patrick Chamusso

Bonnie Mbuli

Precious Chamusso

Mncedisi Shabangu

Zuko September

Tumisho Masha

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Synopsis

Patrick Chamusso, an apolitical black South African who works at an oil refinery, becomes a freedom fighter for the ANC after a brutal run-in with a government terror squad. Patrick stages daring solo attacks against the apartheid regime, even as a policeman worms his way into the lives of Patrick and his family.

Director: Phillip Noyce
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Anthony Minghella, Robyn Slovo
Screenwriter: Shawn Slovo
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Mirage Enterprises, Working Title Films
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material|Brief Language|Violence)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.3M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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