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      Catch a Fire

      PG-13 Released Oct 27, 2006 1 hr. 42 min. Drama Mystery & Thriller List
      75% 145 Reviews Tomatometer 71% 25,000+ Ratings Audience Score Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke), an apolitical black South African who works at an oil refinery, becomes a freedom fighter for the ANC after a brutal run-in with a government terror squad. Patrick stages daring solo attacks against the apartheid regime, even as a policeman (Tim Robbins) worms his way into the lives of Patrick and his family. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Feb 21 Buy Now

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      Catch a Fire

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      Critics Consensus

      No stranger to the political thriller, director Phillip Noyce tackles apartheid and terrorism with experienced gusto, while Derek Luke and Tim Robbins hand in nuanced performances.

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      Audience Reviews

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      kevin c Set during apartheid era South Africa, Derek Luke plays a plant worker who is wrongfully accused of setting off a bomb. After plenty of questioning and torture, he is eventually released only to come out a changed man who puts his own plan together. Tim Robbins play the police colonel in charge of the investigation. Very well acted and based on true events. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Mike J Sonic is lord king king of lord Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/28/22 Full Review Audience Member Director Phillip Noyce depicts how a single spark of defiance and strength can catch a fire for revolutionary change The spark that ignites us unites us all It's 1980 and apartheid in Africa is at its highest Derek Luke plays Patrick Chamusso; a South African with kids and a wife He's very apolitical and works at an oil refinery Seeing the corruption of the country's government he becomes a part of the ANC after running into a terror squad Tim Robbins as policeman Nic Vos investigates a recent bombing on the Secunda CTL synthetic fuel refinery; the biggest coal liquefaction plant in the country Vos hounds Patrick at every turn threatening his family and his current political status Patrick stages several attacks against the apartheid regime with the whites coming in and taking everything they want regardless of the locals After so much torture and interrogation Patrick decides to do the noble thing and confess to a crime he didn't commit to spare his family 25 million blacks, 3 million whites in a nation cut in half Vos even claims that the white population are the underdogs, the ones unsafe In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, "we can win but only if we forgive..." Both Luke and Robbins are committed to their performances as men in an era of fear, separation, hostility, and begging for change Terrorism is rarely a black-and-white issue and while the movie isn't an adrenaline rush it has a central theme that's provoking There's very little psychology here but Phillip Noyce shows his knack for political thrillers Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review laurie s it is a film that is inspirational and a little bit ashamed to be white. Whites have got a lot to answer for in their treatment of africans and this movie displays that very well. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review lukas r Incredible movie with interesting / confronting topic. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/17/18 Full Review Frances H Enthralling drama of one man's journey from injustice through violent revolt to redemption and forgiveness--a man who comes to realize that two wrongs don't make a right, life's most valuable lesson that many never learn. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/22/16 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (145) Critics Reviews
      Amy Nicholson I.E. Weekly Noyce is now the favorite filmmaker of your local Amnesty International Rated: C Jul 2, 2009 Full Review Paul Arendt BBC.com Featuring excllent performances from Luke and Robbins, Catch A Fire is a mature, thought provoking film. Rated: 3/5 Mar 23, 2007 Full Review Dave Calhoun Time Out At its best when making the most of the conflicts at the heart of apartheid. Mar 23, 2007 Full Review Annie Wagner The Stranger (Seattle, WA) Given the complex motivations at play, it's unfortunate that the script doesn't go in for much psychology and wastes precious minutes halfway humanizing Patrick's Boer rival. Mar 1, 2018 Full Review Joshua Starnes ComingSoon.net It doesn't quite have the adrenaline to be a great thriller, but Catch a Fire makes up for it with compelling characters and a genuinely important theme, skillfully told. There's not much else you can ask from a film than that. Rated: 8/10 Mar 10, 2011 Full Review Jane Boursaw Common Sense Media Gritty apartheid drama pushes PG-13 limits. Rated: 4/5 Jan 1, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke), an apolitical black South African who works at an oil refinery, becomes a freedom fighter for the ANC after a brutal run-in with a government terror squad. Patrick stages daring solo attacks against the apartheid regime, even as a policeman (Tim Robbins) worms his way into the lives of Patrick and his family.
      Director
      Phillip Noyce
      Executive Producer
      Sydney Pollack, Debra Hayward, Liza Chasin
      Screenwriter
      Shawn Slovo
      Distributor
      Focus Features
      Production Co
      Mirage Enterprises, Working Title Films
      Rating
      PG-13 (Thematic Material|Brief Language|Violence)
      Genre
      Drama, Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Oct 27, 2006, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Feb 12, 2014
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $4.3M
      Sound Mix
      Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby SRD
      Aspect Ratio
      Scope (2.35:1)
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