Catch a Fire (2006)

[Guest jirpy100]

Now this was a bit better than I expected. Director Philip Noyce tackled the complex social issue of apartheid and terrorism in this South African-based thriller about a family man who feels compelled to join the ANC after he and his wife are tortured by the security branch.

Tim Robbins does a good job as a colonel in the police force, while Derek Luke is quite convincing as real-life freedom fighter Patrick Chamuso.

I'm only gonna give it a 7/10 though, since the opening scenes contain no subtance, and it's a bit unprofessional to use documentary footage & snippets of the real person when dealing with such sensitive issues - it takes away from the objectivity.

The film was written by one of the character's daughters, Joe Slovo, who was head of the ANC's military wing in Mozambique during the 80's. She also wrote Captain Corelli's Mandolin, about the Italians in the Second World War.

For those who did like the film I also recommend Stander (2003) and Cry, Freedom (1987).