Wide shot donald woods and wife wendy next to statue 7. Cry freedom is the story of the friendship between stephen biko denzel washington, leader of the black consciousness movement in south africa in the 1970s, and donald woods kevin kline, the. South african journalist donald woods is forced to flee. He hated the brutality that police did to black people. Woods started out life like most white south africansamid wealth, privilege, and totally ignorant of their allpervasive racism. Cry freedom 1987 south african journalist donald woods is forced to flee the country, after attempting to investigate the death in custody of his friend, the black activist steve biko. Donald woods, south african journalist and antiapartheid campaigner born. You take it with a glass of water and you feel better about your social consciousness in the morning. Jul 21, 2015 wide shot donald woods and wife wendy next to statue 7. Much of the story of wendy woods is bound up with her journalist husband, donald, and the charismatic leader of south africas black consciousness movement, steve biko. The character quotes cry freedom 1987 donald woods. Just as the title, the story portrays the life of donald woods, whose friend is an african activist fighting for the freedom of south africa. It is woods story from beginning to end, describing how he met biko, how his thinking was changed by the man, how he witnessed black life at first hand by patronizing a black speakeasy in a township and having a few drinks, and how, after he was placed under house arrest by the south africa government, he. Donald woods, who has died aged 67, was a south african journalist whose links with the antiapartheid activist steve biko led to his fleeing the.
Donald woods was a white editor and wanted to help biko. Nov 06, 1987 the rest of the time, it chooses to concentrate on donald woods, the newspaper editor who was bikos close friend and bravely defied south african authorities on bikos behalf. It is a movie about a journalist, donald woods, and a black activist, steve biko. The israelis did it and now the africans have done it but at what cost. Choose from 361 different sets of cry freedom movie flashcards on quizlet. The film centres on the reallife events involving black activist steve biko and his friend donald woods, who. A factbased drama about the life of south african activist, steven biko. Mar 18, 2016 donald woods is an editor of the daily dispatch, a journal in east london. His books exposed case and were the basis of the movie, cry freedom. The analysis will focus on the way the movie critically evaluates.
It was written from a screenplay by john briley based on a pair of books by journalist donald woods. Journalist donald woods kevin kline is editor of the largest paper in south africa. The story revolves around the life of black antiapartheid activist stephen bantu steve biko washington and his friendship with the white journalist and antiapartheid activist donald woods kline in late 1970s south africa. I first learned about steve biko and donald woods after watching the movie cry freedom in my global history class. Newsman donald woods still seeks justice for stephen biko. Donald woods posted a news about a group of police killed and forced black people to leave the city. Just as the title, the story portrays the life of donald woods, whose friend is an african activist fighting for the freedom. Woods wrote a book on bikos life, and, in 1987, richard attenborough made the film cry freedom since seen by 850m people in 67 countries. Cry freedom director richard attenborough filmed the story of woods and steve biko, based upon the books which woods had written, under the title cry freedom. Aug 20, 2001 woods wrote a book on bikos life, and, in 1987, richard attenborough made the film cry freedom since seen by 850m people in 67 countries in which kevin kline played woods, and denzel. Cry freedom was one of the melancholic story written by john briley and simplified by rowena akinyemi. Donald woods, 67, editor and apartheid foe the new york times. 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.
Nov, 2012 the event of bikos death in the movie begins with his arrest on august 18, 1977 while on his way to cape town. I had never been so intent on reading a book as i was with this one. Cry freedom cry freedom 1 the beginning start at the. Donald woods, bikos close friend and a leading white south african newspaper editor, exposed the murder helping to ignite the black revolution. Learn cry freedom movie with free interactive flashcards. Cry freedom is a 1987 film, directed by richard attenborough and starring denzel washington and kevin kline. He was editor of the south african newspaper, the daily dispatch. Donald woods was an avid spokesperson against apartheid in south africa. Cry freedom was a movie that took place in south africa in the 1970s. One of the most famous antiapartheid activists was steve biko, who was murdered in jail. Director richard attenborough filmed the story of woods and steve biko, based upon the books which woods had. Journalist, author, and antiapartheid activist donald woods, a fifthgeneration south african, was the featured speaker at a george washington university discussion on the film, cry freedom.
The watershed experience in wood s journey toward a better understanding of the black african experience occurred in 1973. She was portrayed in the film cry freedom, based on her husbands book about bikos murder, by the downton abbey star penelope wilton. Donald and wendy woods became very much involved in the project, working closely with the actors and crew. In cry freedom, woods kevin kline befriends biko denzel washington before the latter is arrested on trumped up charges.
Woods wrote a book on bikos life, and, in 1987, richard attenborough made the film cry freedom since seen by 850m people in 67 countries in which kevin kline played woods, and denzel. When the film opened in 1987, it would be another six years before the minority white supremacist government would give way to rule by the black majority, led by imprisoned. Subjected to 22 hours of interrogation, torture and beating by south african police on september 6, 1977, steve biko died six days later. Jul 03, 2017 cry freedom was one of the melancholic story written by john briley and simplified by rowena akinyemi. This is the death of stephen bantu biko as portrayed in the movie cry freedom.
He was stopped by police at a roadblock outside of king williams town, where he lived. He was banned in 1977 by the government from speaking and writing publicly for five years because of his investigation into steve bikos death at the hands of the police. Cry freedom is a 1987 film, directed by richard attenborough and starring denzel washington and kevin kline the story revolves around the life of black antiapartheid activist stephen bantu steve biko washington and his friendship with the white journalist and antiapartheid activist donald woods kline in late 1970s south africa. Cry freedom is a 1987 british drama film directed by richard attenborough, set in the late 1970s, during the apartheid era of south africa. In 1987, richard attenborough directed the film cry freedom, about the friendship that developed between woods and steve biko, based on. Donald woods was born on december 15, 1933 in elliotdale, south africa as donald james woods.
Woods was made cbe in 2000, shortly before his last book, rainbow nation revisited, was published. Summary of cry freedom by john briley rayd alsayf blog. While woods was around biko reporting what was happening, biko invited woods to go see one of the impoverished black township so he could see where black people in south africa lived. Although woods is doesnt agree with bikos denzel washington views, he is staunchly against the south african government and its. Woodss book biko 1978 and his personal experiences as described in his autobiography, asking for trouble 1981, inspired the 1987 film cry freedom. The event of bikos death in the movie begins with his arrest on august 18, 1977 while on his way to cape town. Due to the fact that he has made it his job to fight the governments treatment of blacks via editorials and articles he has put the city on the world map. Donald woods was born at elliotdale, transkei, south africa, in 1933 not far from nelson mandelas birthplace.
Cry freedom the 1987 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. Cry freedom is based on biko and asking for trouble, books by donald woods. Cry freedom 1987 set in apartheidtorn south africa. One morning he gets news of a police raid in the black township crossroads that lies in cape town. He must do it, he has been forever changed by his experienceand he succeeds, prompting us to succeed. Donald woods was editorinchief of the daily dispatch, a newspaper in south africa. I know more white south africans are leaving south africa because of the black conciousness movement has become too political but nevertheless this book biko by donald woods and made in to a film cry freedom is an important guide to democracy. The story of cry freedom is to inform future generations that how black people suffered and fought the system in those years. Nov, 2012 in the book biko by donald woods, the idea behind black consciousness was, to break away almost entirely from past black attitudes to the liberation struggle, and to set a new style of selfreliance and dignity for blacks as a psychological attitude leading to new initiatives. Cry freedom, the movie, is a lifechanging movie and you must see it. Cry freedom about the fight against apartheid in south.
The story of steve biko came to be told thanks to one man who had the chance to use his authority to do something that only he could do. Donald woods has a powerful way of writing, his points are concise, and they hit you with a serious impact of the situation he speaks of. Although woods is doesnt agree with bikos denzel washington views, he is staunchly against the south african government and its oppressive laws that affect blacks. Cry freedom genre biography, drama, history sub english. In one of the photos you see an image of a black biko is a revolutionary. He is known for his work on cry freedom 1987, tongues untied 1989 and biko 1986. His coverage of steve bikos death in custody led to his exile from south africa. The movie accurately portrays him traveling with his friend peter jones of the bpc, then being stopped and asked to state his name. Describe a main character a main character in the film cry freedom directed and produced by richard attenborough was donald woods. This powerful biography of bantu stephen bikowhich was the basis for the major motion picture cry freedom, starring kevin kline and denzel washingtonis considered the definitive work on one of the most important leaders in south africas history.
Following the murder, reporter donald woods sought to get bikos message out to the world. With denzel washington, kevin kline, josette simon, wabei siyolwe. Cry freedom is a 1987 epic drama film directed by richard attenborough, set in late1970s apartheid era south africa. Parents need to know cry freedom depicts the atrocities committed by south african government authorities during its repressive and inhuman apartheid regime, the countrys racist policy that lasted from 1948 to 1994. Cry freedom is a worthwhile watch, but you will be shocked by the level of cruelty done by the s, african government at that time.
Youre willing to tear our lives to see donald woods on a book cover. The movie shapes itself around the friendship between woods, a smug white liberal journalist, and biko, the gentle. Feb 04, 2015 donald woods was a white editor and wanted to help biko. Donald woods december 15, 1933, died august 19, 2001 was a south african antiapartheid activist and journalist. Their relationship was chronicled in the 1987 richard attenborough film cry freedom. Cry freedom about the fight against apartheid in south africa, by. Donald james woods, cbe 15 december 1933 19 august 2001 was a south african journalist and antiapartheid activist.
He died on august 19, 2001 in sutton, london, england. Aug 20, 2001 donald woods, who has died aged 67, was a south african journalist whose links with the antiapartheid activist steve biko led to his fleeing the country, and were dramatised in the film cry freedom. The premise of cry freedom is based on the true story of steve biko, the charismatic south african black consciousness movement leader who attempts to bring awareness to the injustice of apartheid, and donald woods, the liberal white editor of the daily dispatch newspaper who struggles to do the same after biko is murdered. While editor, he integrated the editorial staff in direct opposition to apartheid and took up an antiapartheid stance. Sir richard attenborough, who made the therellbeamidterm. This essay examines the film cry freedom, set in the late 1970s, which was directed by sir richard attenborough in 1987. It was first published in 1989 by oxford university press. Jan, 2020 cry freedom 1987 full south african journalist donald woods is forced to flee the country, after attempting to investigate the death in custody of his friend, the black activist steve biko. Donald woods, who cried for freedom, died on august 19th, aged 67. In the book biko by donald woods, the idea behind black consciousness was, to break away almost entirely from past black attitudes to the liberation struggle, and to set a new style of selfreliance and dignity for blacks as a psychological attitude leading to new initiatives.
The event covered almost a span of one month, the 18th of august 1977 through the 12th of september 1977. He was banned in 1977 by the government from speaking and writing publicly for five years because of his investigation into steve bikos death at. Cry freedom is a 1987 britishsouth african epic drama film directed by richard attenborough, set in late1970s apartheid era south africa. Biko defines it as, the cultural and political revival of.
Donald woods is an editor of the daily dispatch, a journal in east london. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Richard attenboroughs 1987 awardwinning film cry freedom catalogued woods transformation into an unwavering white voice railing against apartheid. Cry freedom 1987 full south african journalist donald woods is forced to flee the country, after attempting to investigate the death in custody of his friend, the black activist steve biko. The screenplay was written by john briley based on a pair of books by journalist donald woods. Asking for trouble 1981, inspired the 1987 film cry freedom. Cry freedom essay example free essays, term papers.
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