By Verena Niemeyer

Catch a fire is the one film you shouldn’t miss this autumn. More than 15 years after the end of the apartheid this political thriller gives us a touching insight of the determined fight of the African National Congress (ANC), as the voice of South Africa’s Black population, against their white suppressors. In the early 1980s South Africa is still ruled by the oppressive apartheid system but the outlawed activist organization ANC fights back by committing acts of “terrorism”. Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke) a loving husband to his wife Prescious (Bonnie Henna) and caring father of two daughters works as a foreman at the centrally located Secunda oil refinery.

Tim Robbin as Policeman Nic Vos

In his spare time he coaches a local football team and shows no signs of interest in politics. This change rapidly when Patrick comes under suspicion and is arrested for sabotaging the Secunda oil refinery. The brutal interrogation methods of Security Branch Colonel Nic Vos (Tim Robbins) and his men finally drive Patrick to leave his family and join the ANC in their fight for freedom.

Catch a fire is very authentic film that resists drawing an overly one-dimensional picture of the situation in the South Africa of the 80ies. The film not only explores the fate of Patrick Chamusso who is pressed into being a terrorist by his white tormentors but also provides a deep insight into the world of Colonel Nic Vos who is an interesting two dimensional character in that he is a racist “monster” who at the same time musters deep feelings for his own family. Catch a fire is more than a political thriller. It is also a family drama blurring the stereo typical cliches of “black people are good” and “white people are bad”. We learn that on both sides of this political system were people with very human feelings and fears which is strikingly shown when Prescious betrays her own husband to the enemy out of jealousy.

While the film deals with a very serious historical event it is in no way depressing or preachy. The director Phillip Noyce has managed to keep a certain lightness to the film by contrasting the disturbing scenes of violence with a glorious insight into the wide and colorful canvas that makes up African culture.

Catch a fire is based on a true story and Shawn Slovo, (Captain Corelli's Mandolin) the writer of the screenplay, is the daughter of Joe Slovo who headed the military wing of the ANC and trained Patrick Chamusso to be a freedom fighter. These facts and the remarkable performance of Derek Luke and Bonnie Henna created an outstanding authentic and emotional film that will hopefully attract the attention of the Academy.

Catch A Fire is rated PG 13 and currently playing in theaters.