what a brilliant film . i will admit it be very ambitious and with the subject matter . at a little over two and a half hour and it be a very long film too . but neither of these pointer be flaw in any way . cry freedom and despite the minor flaw it may have and be a powerful and move and compelling film about the story of the black activist steve biko in his struggle to awaken south africa to the horror of the apartheid . it be true and that the first half be strong than the second in term of emotional impact . people have also complain that the film suffers from too much wood not enough biko . i may be wrong and but although it be biko story and it be tell in the perspective of wood and so wood be an important character in convey biko story to the world . cry freedom visually look amazing . with the show stop cinematography and the stunning south african scenery it be a visual feast . the opening scene especially be brilliantly shoot . george fenton music bring real dramatic weight to most scene . it be subtle in scene in the second half and but stir and dramatic in the crowd scene . the script be of exceptional quality and the courtroom scene with biko be enough to really make you think wow this be real quality stuff . the first half with biko a the main focus constantly have something to feel emotional about and whether it be the police attack of the south african citizen or biko death . the second half entirely about donald wood carry less of an emotional punch and but be compensate by how it be shot and perform and write . and there be part that be genuinely suspenseful as well . the performance be exceptional from the entire cast and from the most minor character to the two lead and there wasn not a single bad performance . regardless of the accent that be and but it be forgive so easily by how much the performance draw you in . denzel washington in one of his more understated performance and give a truly compelling performance a biko and and kevin kline show that he can be as good at drama a he be at comedy and for he give a suitably subtle performance to match that of washington . and the two men chemistry be believable and never strike a false note . penelope wilton be lovely a donald wife wendy and and she be a great actress anyway . out the support performance and and there may be some bias and two stand out for me . one be timothy west and who relish his role a captain dewet . the other be the ever exceptional john thaw in a brilliantly chill cameo role a kruger . lord richard attenborough direction be focus and constantly sensitive a usual . overall and a truly wonderful film . ambitious and long it be and but never cease to be compelling and powerful and achingly move . a definite winner from lord richard attenborough and and worthy of a lot more praise . positive bethany cox .