Catch A Fire is the story of a South African hero's journey to freedom. The political thriller takes place during the country's turbulent and divided times in the early 1980s, and in the new South Africa of today. Derek Luke portrays real-life hero Patrick Chamusso. Patrick is a charming and loving husband to his wife Precious (Bonnie Henna), and a caring father to his two young daughters. He works as a foreman at the centrally located Secunda oil refinery, which is a symbol of South Africa's self-sufficiency at a time when the world was protesting the country's oppressive apartheid system. In his spare time, Patrick coaches a local boys' soccer team and he couldn't possibly be less politically involved/interested. Tim Robbins plays Nic Vos, a Colonel in the country's Police Security Branch. Vos strives to maintain order in volatile situations, which have become more and more frequent as the outlawed activist organization African National Congress (ANC) rallies blacks against apartheid. He and his family live a world away from the Chamusso family......until the innocent Patrick comes under suspicion and is arrested (in June 1980) for sabotage of the Secunda oil refinery. His alibi is compromised, and Patrick is desperate to shield Precious from a past indiscretion and keep his job. But he is ill-prepared to withstand brutal interrogations by Vos' men. As Vos further insinuates himself into the lives of the Chamussos, to Patrick's shock and shame, Precious herself is jailed and tortured. Although he and Precious are soon released from custody, Patrick is stunned into action and completely reorients his sense of self and purpose. He leaves his family to join up with the ANC.
I've never been a really big fan of politically charged movies like this. I enjoy being in my little bubble of not knowing what is going on in other countries. I know that may sound beyond ignorant, but I also know how stuff like this can completely suck your brain in like a vacuum and before you know it - this stuff is all that you know. I digress. As for this movie, I surprisingly enjoyed it a lot. It was very well done and the characters were very well developed. I actually think that Derek Luke could have been nominated for Best Actor in 2006.
I would definitely recommend this movie for rental. Its definitely not a movie for everyone, but I still think it is very worth watching for anyone who would be interested in this kind of a movie.
