New Facility at SUNSET PARK A Grand...
Read More
Pain, Revenge Are Powerful Parallels in ‘Catch A Fire’
BY MAGGIE SCOTT
Africa celebrates a “day of reconciliation” in November. Reminding us of the struggle against apartheid and its victims, for which this day was named after much misery and hate, is the stirring drama, ‘Catch a Fire’, by director Phillip Noyce.
It is an eerily timely movie, echoing in not exactly relevant fashion, the dire terrorist situation the world faces. Not relevant because this portrait, based on a real man, of Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke) is one of a “good” terrorist.
Chamusso lives in a tyrannical political situation in 1980. But, with his “head down” he has made his way, in a world that would wipe him out with little provocation, up to a position of some job and material security. He works at a refinery after years of mine work begun at the age of 15.
Chamusso believes he’s playing the game well to protect himself, his wife Precious (Bonnie Henna) and his two daughters from any notice by authorities increasingly sensitive to signs of organized resistance. But, innocence is no bulwark against oppression.
No matter how often he cow tows to his white supervisors or upbraids his mother for listening to ANC radio broadcasts under his roof, Chamusso cannot remain untouched by the regime determined to crush opposition or remain neutral to the rising tide within his circle of friends of militant activism. Chamusso has been able to drive by scenes of interrogation, has been able to remain silent as factory workers give voice to freedom fighters songs. But, an explosion at the refinery changes everything.
Nic Vos (Tim Robbins), an officer with the Police Security Branch’s anti-terrorism squad, becomes Chamusso’s cruel nemesis. He’s convinced that Chamusso has connections to those responsible for this local incident that is part of what besieged white Afrikaaners believe is a larger movement determined to wipe them out (“we’re the ones under attack; we’re the underdogs”).
His body tortured, his wife violated, his family threatened, his friends murdered, Chamusso becomes “ready to die” for the cause. While he joins ANC operatives in Mozambique for training for another strike at the refinery, Vos is laying the groundwork with Precious to take advantage of her anger at Chamusso’s betrayal of her with another woman.
This suspicion, pain and revenge on an intimate level is a powerful parallel to what is consuming the Chamussos’ country and adds depth to this dynamic, powerfully acted story.
A Focus Features release, rated PG-13 for violence and brief language.
.
