Catch A Fire Reviews

Essential viewing

This film should be part of the national curriculum! Essential viewing for any student of South African history, it tells loud and clear of the appalling brutality of the white regime in pre-ANC led South Africa. The acting is of a high enough calibre to make me rate this film very good, but the overall impact makes happy to give it 5 out of 5. There are a couple of moments of slight cheesiness, but they shouldn't detract too much. Even the South African accents aren't too bad!

Best film I have seen in a long time

It is so refreshing to see a film that has been directed well, uses good photography, well acted, but above all tells such a powerful and touching story. I rented this thinking it would be an OK independent movie, but was pleasantly surprised and didn't even realise it was based on true life events. Tim Robbins plays a South African intelligence officer a complex character: sinisterly brutal and manipulative, mixed with a deceiving charm. This has to be one of Robbin's finest roles. But above all it was the portrayal of Patrick by Derek Luke that had me gripped throughout.

Highly recommended.

[Highly rated reviewer]

BELOW AVG

I THOUGHT THIS FILM WAS LONG WINDED AND LACKED EXCITEMENT

Not even a spark

Missed opportunity. Even with the acting talent it just total missed the mark. This should have been much better.

An Impressive and Intresting Insight

Catch a Fire is elegant and interesting. It gives a good idea about the ANC in South Africa, and gives some reasoning behind their activities. Tim Robbins is brilliant as chief of police, and the story is one that genuinely has you hooked from beginning to end. Worth renting for the scenery alone, I can guarantee that if you have the slightest interest in the history of South Africa you will love this film.

[Highly rated reviewer]

"My children, when they speak if their father, they will say he was a man who stood up for what was right, a man who said he must do something now. What will your children say about you? "

Apartheid South Africa, the early 1980s. Patrick (Luke) is a foreman at an oil refinery and a kids’ soccer coach. When the refinery is sabotaged he is arrested and brutally interrogated by the Police Security Branch, led by Colonel Nic Vos (Robbins).

An intelligent thriller that effectively conveys the message that terrorism, even in apartheid-era South Africa, is rarely a black-and-white issue.

[Highly rated reviewer]

strike a light

there's been several africa-based, and several terrorist-based, movies over the last few years ('last king of scotland', 'blood diamond', etc; the various 9/11 movies, 'syriana', etc). 'catch a fire' certainly stands up to comparision. dealing with a previous era of apartheid in south africa, it's interesting to note the frequent use of the term 'terrorist' in its dialogue. here, the 'terrorists' are automatically portrayed and perceived as the 'good guys' fighting for freedom, recognition and civil rights (and i wouldn't argue with that) but their fight is more palateable to our western tastes because it's about race, not religion. if you're interested, watch this and 'syriana' in the same evening and consider the actions of the 'terrorists', and the movies' messages and subtexts. overall, a very engaging movie with a solid plot, believable mood and good performances. the little extra at the end is also satisfying for those who don't know the history of the story.

Brillant Film

I wasn't expecting much watching this but was was really surprised at how well this film has been made and how realistic the events are.

This is a really fantastic film showing the strife and trouble between the whites and blacks in South Africa, and the way in which the apartheid was finally resolved (to some fashion anyway).

The only thing I would say is that it shouldn't be a 12 as the violence could be quite disturbing for a child.

Brilliant!

Fantastic, gripping true story

[Highly rated reviewer]

True story

What I did not realise is this is a true story and it involved apartheid at its worst.

Tim Robbins is excellent as the Afrikaans bigot who actually spoke Afrikaans in the film (which I can understand as I used to speak it)

Great film about the rise of the main character from a humble worker to an ANC member who wanted his country to be free of apartheid.

Good viewing.