A World Apart
Based on a true story, this "haunting, deeply moving film" (Los Angeles Times) earned the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. With a "strikingly forceful performance" (New York) by Barbara Hershey, this potent account of personal and political turmoil brims with "emotion and radiant intelligence" (The New Yorker)!
South Africa, 1963. Communist Gus Roth (Jeroen Krabbe) is forced to flee Johannesburg to escape arrest, leaving his activist wife Diana (Hershey) to continue their crusade against apartheid. But when Diana is wrenched from her three daughters and jailed under the notorious 90-day Detention Act, she and her family face the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom.
Member Reviews
Very enjoyable - Fudgeflaps
This movie is pretty good, even though it moved along a tad slow in a few spots.
Personally however I wouldn't call it a tearjerker as labeled here on zip.
Barbara Hershey and Jodhi May were good in their lead roles.
I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in a movie that is to some extent based on actual events and people.A World Apart - ricepudding
This movie is excellent. The acting is very good, scenes are authentic. It is a snapshot of
some events which occured in Johannesburg, S. Africa, in 1963. Music/singing are outstanding.
This review has fragments of history to aid viewers.
In 1963, S.Africa was in the grip of Apartheid. It started in the '50's. It was an evil time. Each government law pushed the black people down.
They survived by adopting the attitude 'Living Against Apartheid'. In '62 Nelson Mandela left the country for guerrilla training.
The government laws pushed a wedge between black and white. Some of the laws: Mixed marriages ..prohibited, Compulsory Registration for blacks, The 90 Day Law.
Some felt the cause was right. Some were passive,
'does not affect me', a third group fought the unjust laws. The Roth family were here. They were citizens within the law, yet close to being militant activists.
The movie opens with a family in turmoil. Gus Roth (Krabbe), active in Communism, is anathema
to the government,and a target for the police. He fled with a last minute scramble to
pack, kiss his three daughters, hug his wife Diana (Hershey)and drive away. The distraught girls, two small & a teen, Molly (May) are consoled thinking dad will return.
Diana works with a group who write articles for newspapers, etc. The police watch her.
A bond grows between Molly and mum, but
her rage at losing her father surfaces. She
finds her siblins in her room. 'Get out!'
she screams.
The 90 day law allows police to arrest people on
suspicion, and jail them for 90d. Diana is jailed,
the police interrogate her brutally.
The end is warming. Molly and her mum stand in a large crowd of chanting blacks. Black arms are
raised in defiance and hope. Two white figures
in a sea of blacks, fists raised in defiance and
hope. Molly and her mum have come home.
Watch for closing text. Do see this one.Another world - Woody2
This is a brilliant film, seen through the eyes of the daughter- played by Jodhi May. She captures the innocence, interest, and realisation of her apartheid-era world. She struggles to come to terms with her mother's arrest. Barbara Hershey should always make more thought provoking movies. Loved this film. The African locations captured essence of Johannesburg.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Very enjoyable - Fudgeflaps
This movie is pretty good, even though it moved along a tad slow in a few spots.
Personally however I wouldn't call it a tearjerker as labeled here on zip.
Barbara Hershey and Jodhi May were good in their lead roles.
I would recommend this to anyone ...A World Apart - ricepudding
This movie is excellent. The acting is very good, scenes are authentic. It is a snapshot of
some events which occured in Johannesburg, S. Africa, in 1963. Music/singing are outstanding.
This review has fragments of history to aid viewers.
In ...Another world - Woody2
This is a brilliant film, seen through the eyes of the daughter- played by Jodhi May. She captures the innocence, interest, and realisation of her apartheid-era world. She struggles to come to terms with her mother's arrest. Barbara Hershey should always make ...