Mary Benson (campaigner) Mary Benson (campaigner) Mary Benson (8 December 1919 – 19 June 2000) was a South African civil rights campaigner and author. Born in 1919 in Pretoria, Benson served in the South African Women's Army during World War II. After the war, she was secretary to film director David Lean. Benson became acquainted with the author Alan Paton, and read his novel "Cry, the beloved country" (1948), whose main theme was racial discrimination in South Africa. This affected her greatly, and she became a campaigner for the rights of black people there. She worked with Michael Scott (who, in 1946, was
Cry, the Beloved Country (1995 film) African themed films as "Zulu" (1964), "Born Free" (1966), and "Out of Africa" (1985), used predominantly western musical styles to complete the score. The music is notable for referencing themes from Barry's previous work on "Zulu", augmenting the original warlike compositions into a somber piano theme for travel scenes. The film also features the song "Exile" by Enya. The music was performed by the English Chamber Orchestra and recorded in Studio One at the EMI Abbey Road Studios, London. The film was shot on location in KwaZulu Natal, Cape Province, and at Gauteng, South Africa. "Cry, the Beloved Country" received