Cry Freedom

Cry Freedom (1987)

Timing: 2:37 (157 min)

7.025/10
198

7.2/10
811

7.4/10
15000

All about film

Video 3

Photo 19

Actors and characters

Release date

1987-11-06

Country

United Kingdom, Zimbabwe

Production

Universal Pictures, Marble Arch Productions

Genre

Drama

Budget

$29 000 000

Revenue

$5 899 797

Website

Director

Richard Attenborough

Actors

Kevin Kline, Denzel Washington, Penelope Wilton, Kate Hardie, John Matshikiza, Zakes Mokae, John Thaw, Kevin McNally, John Hargreaves, Juanita Waterman
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Richard Attenborough, Terence A. Clegg

Operator

Ronnie Taylor

Composer

George Fenton

Artist

Audition

Susie Figgis

Editing

Lesley Walker
All team (34)

• The film was shot primarily in Zimbabwe.
• The filmmakers intended to begin filming in South Africa as early as October 1986, having secured permission and support from certain prominent figures, including Oliver Tambo (1917-1993) and Winnie Mandela (1936-2018). Following an interview with Mandela, the filmmakers were placed under close surveillance by local law enforcement and eventually forced to leave the country. Furthermore, the South African Broadcasting Corporation deliberately misinterpreted director and producer Richard Attenborough’s (1923-2014) decision to begin filming in October, reporting that he intended to organize a revolution in the country, sponsored by the Russians.
• Denzel Washington was cast as Steve Biko after Richard Attenborough saw Washington in the series "St. Elsewhere" (1982-1988).
• Steven Biko had a noticeable gap between his upper front teeth. When Denzel Washington was told that his teeth did not resemble Biko’s, he stated that he had crowns on his upper teeth. As soon as the crowns were removed, the problem was solved.