Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2513 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-12-24
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Swedish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 151 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Sir Richard Attenborough (Gandhi) directs this semi-successful drama about the relationship between South African black activist Steven Biko and a sympathetic newspaper editor (Kevin Kline). Attenborough's typical sweep of the life and times of Biko is particularly rewarding in the first half of the film, but once the leader comes to his untimely end at the hands of white police, the story shifts entirely to Kline's character and the latter's efforts to escape the country with his family. That change is a tactical error in the script that robs the film of its initial power and makes the arguably unfortunate choice of emphasizing the destiny of a white character when Biko himself deserved an entire feature for his story and causes. --Tom Keogh

Special Features
4:3
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround English
Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Trailer
Danish\Dutch\Finnish\German\Norwegian\Swedish

Synopsis
This is the retelling of the life of South African anti-apartheid activist Stephen Biko as seen through the eyes of his friend, liberal white newspaper editor Donald Woods. Academy Award Nominations: 3, including Best Supporting Actor--Denzel Washington.

Customer Reviews

Gripping and instense
I have never provided reviews for films or CDs or any other service. However for this film, I will make an exception because it's deserving of it. In short, this film made me cry each of the two times I have watched it. This isn't meant to be especially unique even for a guy, but I questioned and in fact feared whether the film would have the same impact on me the second time I watched it and amazingly it did. Thing is, the film simply reaches a climax at the very end that will be very hard for anyone not to be touched by. It's a great story about 1 man's bravery and fight for justice. Clearly we know of another more prominent figure in South Africa who showed all these qualities including great leadership, but Biko had these too. Fantastic performance by Kevin Klein and Denzel Washington. I wish there had been more about the life of Stephen Biko.

A very powerful film
This is a very powerful film, based on a very powerful book, that will leave you asking the tough questions about governments and racial relationships. Kevin Kline plays Donald Woods, the editor who indergoes a change of opinion and a change of character (from someone who thinks they believe in what's right, to someone who's willing to act on what he knows is right) and Denzel Washington never looks less than dignified as the great activist Steve Biko. The death of Biko, and Woods' escape from South Africa are just two of the images that will stay with you long after watching the movie, and the acting is so superb it is easy to forget that these are two American actors with affected accents. See it. It will do you good.

First class
This is an excellent and important film about fighting the despicable prejudice of the apartheid regime in South Africa. At the time it was made there was a little bit of criticism that Attenborough had chosen to focus on the white character, Donald Woods, rather than the black character Steve Biko. This was missplaced. His film is about the need for liberal-minded people to ask themselves whether they are doing enough to combat tyranny. It traces the personal journey of Woods from the position of priviliged liberal to a more advanced and outspoken oppositon to the South African government. Besides, it would be untrue to claim that the black characters are not fully developed here. We get a clear sense of where Biko is coming from and why his struggle was so important. Obviously the film is a militant film, but what's wrong with that, when what you're militating against is something so blatantly unjust as apartheid? The film is well-made, well-written and a moving experience. You also get a glimpse of the physical beauty of that part of the world, even though the film was actually shot in Zimbabwe.