The Power of One

PG-13

1992

1 hr. 51 min.

Drama

List

39%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

87%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

It's the 1930s, and as the people he cares for die or leave his village, young South African P.K. bonds with much older Doc (Armin Mueller-Stahl). A foreigner, Doc is detained when World War II starts, but from his prison cell he encourages P.K. to learn boxing. As he travels to different bouts, the adult P.K. (Stephen Dorff) forges relationships that anger the state's apartheid government -- but his reunion with his onetime schoolyard nemesis (Daniel Craig) may offer his biggest challenge yet.

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Jean C

I don't understand the low score from critics. Sure, it's not as good as the book, but it's a really well told story. Compelling performances and themes that resonate today, even if a little dated.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/13/24

Full Review

Phil C

Great story based on a great book.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

Full Review

Leanne H

This is one of my favourite movies of all time. Morgan Freeman is brilliant!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/05/23

Full Review

Ricky P

I thought the movie was as good as it gets. Our 'hero' starts of young and happy in a house with his mother and black servants. Its a happy household. Young PK is brought up learning everyone's equal. His mothers ill health and eventual death sees him put in Africanner school where he's bullied incessantly by the white Africanner boys. He gets a break when his Uncle's friend takes him under his wing and teaches him music and how to understand life. The war puts them in a prison camp where young PK learns boxing under the tutelage of Morgan Freeman's character. Seeing young PK grow into a young man and meeting the bully of his school years is well acted out. The whole movie, scenery, music and acting is superb and the movie should have done better but for some truly awful reviews that make me think they must have watched a different film altogether. I think this movie is well worth 5 stars and to anyone watching it for the first time, your in for a treat.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/19/23

Full Review

Chris O

Almost a three in one movie. It obviously looks dated in style but is a great example of the late 80s early 90s filmmaking. The soundtrack was the first tape I ever bought as a kid. Cracker of a soundtrack.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/12/23

Full Review

Seth P

Amazing coming of age movie. shouldn't be rated this low.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/29/22

Full Review

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John G. Avildsen

Director

Stephen Dorff

P.K. Age 18

Armin Mueller-Stahl

Doc

Morgan Freeman

Geel Piet

John Gielgud

St. John

Maria Marais

Actor

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Variety Staff

Variety

Beautifully produced and gorgeously shot on location in Zimbabwe by lenser Dean Semler, picture has depth, dimension and first-rate casting.

May 20, 2008

Full Review

Derek Adams

Time Out

Avildsen draws good performances from the three actors who play PK, as well as from the ever-reliable Freeman and Mller-Stahl, but subtlety is abandoned when he focuses on the ring and teen romance.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Janet Maslin

New York Times

The film's facile treatment of racial issues may be enough to bring back the practice of throwing tomatoes at the screen.

Rated: 1.5/5

Aug 30, 2004

Full Review

Michael Szymanski

International Press Academy

Rated: 4/5

Sep 23, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 30, 2005

Full Review

Daniel M. Kimmel

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Rated: 3/5

Jul 8, 2004

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

It's the 1930s, and as the people he cares for die or leave his village, young South African P.K. bonds with much older Doc (Armin Mueller-Stahl). A foreigner, Doc is detained when World War II starts, but from his prison cell he encourages P.K. to learn boxing. As he travels to different bouts, the adult P.K. (Stephen Dorff) forges relationships that anger the state's apartheid government -- but his reunion with his onetime schoolyard nemesis (Daniel Craig) may offer his biggest challenge yet.

Director: John G. Avildsen
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.7M
Sound Mix: Surround

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