Filming With Attenborough: The Making of Cry Freedom - Softcover

In 1977, because of his efforts to force South African authorities to hold an inquest into the death of Steve Biko, a black consciousness leader, journalist Woods (then editor of South Africa's East London Dispatch) was declared a banned person. Disguised as a priest, he escaped to England. Cry Freedom, Attenborough's upcoming film adaptation of two books by Woods (Biko and Asking for Trouble), was shot in Zimbabwe last year with Denzel Washington (A Soldier's Story) as Biko and Kevin Kline (Sophie's Choice) portraying Woods. Woods, who hopes the movie will communicate the "depths of horror" of apartheid, was closely involved in the filming as technical consultant and here provides intimate glimpses of Attenborough, the cast and crew at both the Zimbabwe locations and London's Shepperton Studios. Woods's reactions to witnessing a re-creation of his own life are juxtaposed with decade-old memories of the real eventsa technique that has considerable impact. Photos unseen by PW.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The author was granted an extraordinary opportunity when director Richard Attenborough decided to film the story of his relationship with martyred South African activist Steve Biko. Not only was he hired as technical advisor, but he was given full and free access to the filming. The result, unfortunately, is mostly a "How They Make Movies" book. Aside from some trumped-up press reports, the South African government did little to disrupt the filming: good for Attenborough but bad for Woods's narrative. Woods was charmed by everyone on the set, from the energetic Attenborough on down. Uninteresting reading.Thomas Wiener, Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.