Catch a Fire
Catch a Fire is a well directed political thriller that reminds us that South Africa's awful apartheid regime was in power not that long ago. And it is based on a true story.
Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke) is a peaceful and hardworking man. While others are calling for the overthrow of apartheid he concentrates on getting ahead at his job (he has recently been made foreman). His family is the most important thing to him and in his free time he coaches a soccer team made up of local youths. But all is not a hundred percent because Chamusso's wife Precious (Bonnie Henna) suspects him of being unfaithful.
Chamusso has a good job for someone who is black. But his little house cannot come anywhere near the spacious abode of policeman Nic Vos (Tim Robbins) and his family. Vos is in charge rounding up so-called "terrorists" who just happen to be part of the anti-apartheid African National Congress (ANC). Vos and his men come to Chamusso's place of work and arrest several of the workers including Chamusso. Now we know that Chamusso is totally innocent but for some reason Vos doesn't think so. Chamusso is eventually released but certain events make him a changed man and he joins the ANC. I won't go into any more plot details (even though some people may know what happens) but I will say that there were some very intense moments in this film.
Director Phillip Noyce does a fine job of bringing this intensity to the screen. He has done this in some of his previous films (The Quiet American and Rabbit Proof Fence come to mind). Luke is wonderful and Robbins is also very good. But, the real surprise here is Bonnie Henna. I have never seen her before but she is amazing as Precious and you can see all of her hurt, disappointment and anger pour out of her eyes.
In the film there is a man named Joe Slovo. He and his wife Ruth First helped the ANC and really put their lives on the line. The film's script was written by their daughter Shawn and one of the producers is another one of their daughters Robyn (who happens to play First in the film). There is another sister named Gillian who is a playwright (I saw her play Guantanamo about two years ago). Shawn also wrote the screenplay for a film entitled A World Apart. It is a terrific film and it is based on her mother's life (using a different name) and stars Barbara Hershey in the lead role (it came out in 1988). I highly recommend that you rent this film on DVD.
The original title for this film was Hot Stuff. That makes some sense as Hot Stuff was Chamusso's code name when he joined the ANC. I don't know why the film was retitled Catch a Fire. That is the name of a Bob Marley and the Wailers song. But I did not hear that song in the film. Another Marley song, Could You Be Loved, was featured throughout. I loved hearing that song as well as all of the wonderful African music that was in the film.
In the end we learn two things. One is that we must never forget the apartheid regime in South Africa (just like we must never forget the Holocaust). The other is that we will never be truly free unless we forgive those who have hurt us the most.
Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke) is a peaceful and hardworking man. While others are calling for the overthrow of apartheid he concentrates on getting ahead at his job (he has recently been made foreman). His family is the most important thing to him and in his free time he coaches a soccer team made up of local youths. But all is not a hundred percent because Chamusso's wife Precious (Bonnie Henna) suspects him of being unfaithful.
Chamusso has a good job for someone who is black. But his little house cannot come anywhere near the spacious abode of policeman Nic Vos (Tim Robbins) and his family. Vos is in charge rounding up so-called "terrorists" who just happen to be part of the anti-apartheid African National Congress (ANC). Vos and his men come to Chamusso's place of work and arrest several of the workers including Chamusso. Now we know that Chamusso is totally innocent but for some reason Vos doesn't think so. Chamusso is eventually released but certain events make him a changed man and he joins the ANC. I won't go into any more plot details (even though some people may know what happens) but I will say that there were some very intense moments in this film.
Director Phillip Noyce does a fine job of bringing this intensity to the screen. He has done this in some of his previous films (The Quiet American and Rabbit Proof Fence come to mind). Luke is wonderful and Robbins is also very good. But, the real surprise here is Bonnie Henna. I have never seen her before but she is amazing as Precious and you can see all of her hurt, disappointment and anger pour out of her eyes.
In the film there is a man named Joe Slovo. He and his wife Ruth First helped the ANC and really put their lives on the line. The film's script was written by their daughter Shawn and one of the producers is another one of their daughters Robyn (who happens to play First in the film). There is another sister named Gillian who is a playwright (I saw her play Guantanamo about two years ago). Shawn also wrote the screenplay for a film entitled A World Apart. It is a terrific film and it is based on her mother's life (using a different name) and stars Barbara Hershey in the lead role (it came out in 1988). I highly recommend that you rent this film on DVD.
The original title for this film was Hot Stuff. That makes some sense as Hot Stuff was Chamusso's code name when he joined the ANC. I don't know why the film was retitled Catch a Fire. That is the name of a Bob Marley and the Wailers song. But I did not hear that song in the film. Another Marley song, Could You Be Loved, was featured throughout. I loved hearing that song as well as all of the wonderful African music that was in the film.
In the end we learn two things. One is that we must never forget the apartheid regime in South Africa (just like we must never forget the Holocaust). The other is that we will never be truly free unless we forgive those who have hurt us the most.
posted by Film Fanatic | 8:24 PM
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