Details
Movie Description
Danny Glover stars as a South African police officer torn between his duty, his conscience, and his family.
Synopsis
A black South African family struggles to stay together as the father, a senior police official, and the son, a student and activist, take different paths in the world of apartheid. But the ever-increasing violence soon forces the father to make a choice between his long-held beliefs and his son's life.
Film Notes
Co-produced by Arsenio Hall Communications.
The title, "Bopha!" is a Zulu word that means both "to detain" and "to arrest," and generally implies "resistance."
Based on the play by Percy Mtwa, which was first produced as a three-character play at Lincoln Center in 1986. A year later it was staged at the Los Angeles Theater Center. Two television productions about the play appeared: one a documentary by the BBC and the other a docudrama by PBS. The PBS docudrama mixed actual footage of black-on-black violence with scenes from the play and featured narration by Sidney Poitier. Before the play's European premiere, it was taken to the townships of South Africa, where Mtwa was able to speak with audiences about their own experiences.
The motion-picture producing debut for Arsenio Hall.
Directorial debut for actor Morgan Freeman.
Motion-picture debuts also for producer Lawrence Taubman, co-producer Lori McCreary, and actors Christopher John Hall and Grace Mahlaba.
Dedicated "In Memorium" to Kevin Greetham.
Filmed in Zimbabwe over a nine-week period. Color by DeLuxe. Dolby Stereo. Titles and opticals By Title House, Inc.
Screened on September 23, 1993, to benefit the Fund for Democratic Elections in South Africa, which raised funds for a voter registration drive. Released in USA September 24, 1993.
"Piri Wango Iya" and "No Money No Life" courtesy of Realworld Records Ltd./Virgin Records America, Inc.
"Senzeni Na," "Siyaya Epitoli," and "Mayibuye Iafrika" courtesy of The African National Congress Department of Arts and Culture.
"Tate Ge Ke Sa Sepela," "Hayo Inyhweba Ababayo" courtesy of The Methodist Publishing House of Capetown.
Industry Reviews
"...[Freeman makes] a strong directorial debut with BOPHA!, a big, angry, extremely well-acted movie..."
Canby
"...An involving, substantial film..." -- Rating: B+
Entertainment Weekly - Lawrence O'Toole (03/11/1994)
"...Tremendous emotional power and integrity....A handsomely crafted, potently played drama..."
Variety - Leonard Klady (09/27/1993)
"...It is a great performance by Danny Glover....[Woodard] is also very strong here, and the film's ending has some of the power of classical tragedy..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (09/24/1993)
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