CRY FREEDOM

1. Who was your favorite character from the film? Why?

Of course, I really liked Stephen Biko's character. He was intelligent, brave and an inspirational fighter against Apartheid. Donald Wood's evolution was also great to see, as he sort of awakens from his white-privileged life and ends up dedicating his life to publish Biko's story.

2. What was your favorite scene from the film? Why?

I liked the scene in which Biko is shown in court, and always has a quick, smart answer for the accusations and allegations of the white men opposing him and the white judge.

In general, I like how the movie constructed the friendship between Wood and Biko, with the flashbacks.

Finally, the Soweto Massacre scene was horrible to see, but I think it's important that they put it in the film. Sometimes movies have the opportinity to show people different events in an accurate way, which people need to see to understand past and present events, as well as anticipate future consecuences of political and power decisions being taken today.

3. How does the film differ from the other films? Use the article from The Guardian to help you

I feel like this film was less "hollywoodized" as, for example, Goodbye Bafana. It shows Wood's transformation and the path he ends up taking helping the anti-Apartheid struggle, but doesn't try to make him the sole hero of the film, who is clearly Biko.

Other films showed black people fighting Apartheid in general, in mass, but this one shows how Biko inspired the people who formed part of the fight. Like it depicts a step virtually prior to the fight in which Biko inspires and calls people to fight for their humanity.

Additionally, Biko wasn't ANC, present in the other films, which proves that the end of the Apartheid wasn't only the ANC's making, but that they were only another (still very important and notorious) actor in the struggle, along with many others.