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Catch a fire - Tim Robbins, Derek Luke, Bonnie Mbuli, Phillip Noyce

Threat advisory: Under evaluation

Movie propaganda

The spark that ignites us, unites us.

The North Eastern Coal Fields, South Africa, 1980.

Times are tough for black people in South Africa but Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke) has his home, his family and a good job at the Secunda Oil Refinery. He wants no part of the anti-Apartheid movement, choosing instead, to lead a simple life. Patrick is absent from work when terrorists attempt to blow up the refinery. He has taken the day off to watch his football team play the final and to secretly visit the son he fathered with his ex-girlfriend.

Nic Vos (Tim Robbins), a white policeman striving to maintain order in the face of increasing unrest, arrests Patrick and two black co-workers. During the interrogation, he presents himself as a saviour from the harsh methods of his fellow cops. To protect his marriage, Patrick hides the alibi that could save him, until his wife Precious (Bonnie Mbuli) is also arrested and beaten. He breaks down and confesses a lie: That he aided the terrorists. Vos sees through his confession and releases him.

Patrick returns home a changed man and joins the outlawed African National Congress (ANC). He volunteers to single handily destroy the Secunda Refinery, earning him the code name Hotstuff. When Vos learns of the plan, a hunt begins. Patrick strikes the plant, sending the surrounding black townships into darkness. Vos closes in on him and captures Patrick who is sentenced to 24 years in the notorious Robben Island prison.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Catch a fire theatrical one sheet imageCatch a fire theatrical one sheet image

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

  • Film drama South Africa apartheid ANC terrorism police unrest freedom prison

Persons of interest

  • Derek Luke .... Patrick Chamusso
  • Bonnie Mbuli .... Precious Chamusso
  • Tim Robbins .... Nic Vos
  • Shawn Slovo .... Screenwriter
  • Phillip Noyce .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

The drama, South Africa movie Catch a fire is directed by Phillip Noyce and stars Tim Robbins, Derek Luke, Bonnie Mbuli.

Government security censorship classification

M (Moderate themes, moderate violence, infrequent moderate coarse language)

Surveillance time

101 minutes (1:41 hours)

Not for public release in Australia before date

Film: 23 November 2006

Cinema surveillance images

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