Cry, the Beloved Country

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Cry, the Beloved Country

PG-13

1995

1h 51m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

85%

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13 Reviews

74%

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1,000+ Ratings

Reverend Stephen Kumalo is a back-country Zulu preacher in South Africa. When his son is accused of robbery and murder, Kumalo journeys to Johannesburg, where he is helped by a local priest. He eventually meets James Jarvis, the father of the murder victim, who is a prominent white supremacist. However, they discover common ground, and their mutual respect becomes a symbol of apartheid's eventual demise.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

2.5/4

We go expecting to be inspired and uplifted, and we leave somewhat satisfied in those areas, but with reluctant questions about how well the story has aged, and how relevant it is today.

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Tom Green

USA Today

Jan 1, 2000

3/4

Especially heart-rending thanks to superb performances by James Earl Jones and Richard Harris.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jun 19, 2005

B

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Apr 28, 2005

2/5

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Aug 7, 2004

3.5/4

A beautiful piece of work.

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Jim Shelby

Palo Alto Weekly

May 20, 2003

3/4

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 7, 2026

This is a *4* star Movie!

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Avalon T

@Avalon604 Jan 3, 2025

Excellent movie. Great acting and a captivating story. Have some tissues handy. A great movie!

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i already d

@wanderingeyes Oct 12, 2018

One of the most aching, beautiful film adaptations. jones and harris both give performances of their lives in this picture. i have wished for a new transfer print to blu-ray for many years and hope it will come one day. the score from barry rivals and surpasses his more popular works. it is a film that is beautiful beyond any singing of it.

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s r

@ScottR Nov 25, 2016

Good, but not quite great.

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Fong Kok Hoong F

@RT29722865 Jun 16, 2016

A tremendously moving story about forgiveness and reconciliation of two fathers who lost their sons in the apartheid-stricken Johannesburg.

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Sep 10, 2015

Outstanding! So much more engaging than the book. A wonderful job!

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Darrell James Roodt

Director

James Earl Jones

Rev Stephen Kumalo

Richard Harris

James Jarvis

Vusi Kunene

Theophilus Msimangu

Leleti Khumalo

Katie

Charles S. Dutton

John Kumalo

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Synopsis

Reverend Stephen Kumalo is a back-country Zulu preacher in South Africa. When his son is accused of robbery and murder, Kumalo journeys to Johannesburg, where he is helped by a local priest. He eventually meets James Jarvis, the father of the murder victim, who is a prominent white supremacist. However, they discover common ground, and their mutual respect becomes a symbol of apartheid's eventual demise.

Director: Darrell James Roodt
Producer: Anant Singh, Harry Alan Towers
Screenwriter: Ronald Harwood, Alan Paton, Joshua Sinclair
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 15, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $337.2K
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Surround

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