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Cry Freedom

Play trailer Poster for Cry Freedom PG,  1987,  2h 36m,  History/ Drama/ Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 73% 26 Reviews Tomatometer 87% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Set in apartheid-torn South Africa. Donald Woods is the editor of the East London Daily Express and Steve Biko is a young black leader struggling to improve life in the townships. The two form an unlikely friendship but when Biko is taken into police custody and then murdered, Woods is placed under house arrest. Fearing for his family's safety, he decides to smuggle them over the border.

Critics Reviews

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Kurt Jacobsen Chicago Reader May 10, 2022
2/4
Nonetheless, this more than slightly askew epic merits a look, and one hopes that other films, which match some of the superb plays and novels by South African authors, will be encouraged by Cry Freedom’s box office. Go to Full Review
Bob Thomas Associated Press Jul 17, 2019
4/4
Attenborough maintains firm control of the narrative, and Cry Freedom is a triumph of dedication. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Jun 19, 2008
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. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Jun 28, 2022
Becomes a type of escape melodrama in the vain of a very lazy Hitchcock. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Aug 16, 2020
2.5/4
For a superior picture about the horrors of apartheid, see 1989's A Dry White Season instead. Go to Full Review
Ángel Fernández-Santos El Pais (Spain) Apr 17, 2020
[Richard] Attenborough manages to skillfully balance entertainment with didacticism. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jan 31, 2019 The best inspiring movie ever made! With the best movie character ever portrayed: Denzel Washington as Steve Biko!
George M Nov 13, 2018 Excellent, riveting film.
Poe W Aug 13, 2018 One of the best movies by far. Outstanding story which is true and highly inspirational.
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Cry Freedom

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Attenborough

Director

Kevin Kline

Donald Woods

Denzel Washington

Steve Biko

Penelope Wilton

Wendy Woods

Kevin R. McNally

Ken

John Thaw

Kruger

Movie Clips

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Cry Freedom

Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Detained, Denied and Banned Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Detained, Denied and Banned 2:45 Now Playing Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Soccer Game Speech Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Soccer Game Speech 2:07 Now Playing Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Escaping South Africa Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Escaping South Africa 3:29 Now Playing Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Steve Biko's Day in Court Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Steve Biko's Day in Court 4:15 Now Playing Cry Freedom: Official Clip - The Poisoned T-Shirts Cry Freedom: Official Clip - The Poisoned T-Shirts 1:58 Now Playing Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Beaten to Death by the Cops Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Beaten to Death by the Cops 3:34 Now Playing Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Flying out of South Africa Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Flying out of South Africa 3:31 Now Playing Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Biko's Funeral Cry Freedom: Official Clip - Biko's Funeral 3:19 Now Playing Cry Freedom: Official Clip - The Soweto Youth Uprising Cry Freedom: Official Clip - The Soweto Youth Uprising 2:42 Now Playing Cry Freedom: Official Clip - We Want to Live as Africans Cry Freedom: Official Clip - We Want to Live as Africans 3:01 Now Playing View more videos

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Cry Freedom

Cry Freedom (1987) Cry Freedom (1987) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Set in apartheid-torn South Africa. Donald Woods is the editor of the East London Daily Express and Steve Biko is a young black leader struggling to improve life in the townships. The two form an unlikely friendship but when Biko is taken into police custody and then murdered, Woods is placed under house arrest. Fearing for his family's safety, he decides to smuggle them over the border.
Director
Richard Attenborough
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal/Universal Int
Rating
PG
Genre
History, Drama, Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 6, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 11, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.9M
Runtime
2h 36m
Sound Mix
Surround
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