MoQuotable(s)

Historical Significance?

I want the story to be told so that the common man like me knows that everyone is important in the face of this universe. It’s not only people who have money who are important…People will see that even a common man like me participated in the history because nobody talks about us. They talk about the top.

The grassroots person is where the real story is because the President is a president because of that man. But we don’t talk about him, we talk about the top. But I think it’s time now to talk about everybody. Everybody is important.
  Patrick Chamusso (October 5, 2006, Catch a Fire Press Junket)

Patrick [Chamusso] to Joe [Slovo] was the symbol of the change that happened in South Africa – an ordinary many who just said, “This is not right. I must do something now.” And through courage, tenacity and focus actually was the story. He wasn’t someone who had a history of political activation as a student like many who went into exile.
  Shawn Slovo (October 5, 2006, Catch a Fire Press Junket)

Greatness is in every single one of us. I think sometimes it’s more powerful for an audience to see a story like this…From an early age, I was fascinated with ordinary stories and the ways in which they can guide us.
  Phillip Noyce (October 5, 2006, Catch a Fire Press Junket)

Surviving Political Imprisonment?

I think it was the struggle because I knew that one day we would be free. Even though it’s hard, but we would be free. It’s what kept me going. And the discussion that we were engaging in, this was what was driving us in the right direction. One day, no matter how long it was going to take, we would be free.
  Patrick Chamusso (October 5, 2006, Catch a Fire Press Junket)

Forgiveness?

To forgive is very important, but don’t forgive and trust at the same time. Wait until time pasts.
  Patrick Chamusso (October 5, 2006, Catch a Fire Press Junket)

I can admire [Patrick’s ability to forgive] and I can relate to it. I would hope that I would have the same generosity of spirit when presented with the same challenges.
  Tim Robbins (October 5, 2006, Catch a Fire Press Junket)

In my own personal life, forgiveness has played such a powerful role. Forgiveness has the power to free you. At first, you think to forgive is to be foolish, but it is actually in [forgiving] that you find your greatest strength and that you can actually overcome any lies that the oppressor has fed you. South African leaders like Nelson Mandela and Bishop Tutu are people who embody that kind of thinking…They didn’t just preach it; they lived it. It is everything they are and stand for. With that kind of example, it’s hard not to understand it as a South African.
  Bonnie Henna (October 5, 2006, Catch a Fire Press Junket)

For a lot of people the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was very cathartic and helpful, particularly for people who never knew where the bodies of their families were. On the other side, there was a lot of genuine and cathartic admission of guilt and apology and pleas for forgiveness. It was a great healing process for the country as a whole.
  Shawn Slovo (October 5, 2006, Catch a Fire Press Junket)

Contemporary Relevance of Historical Film?

Becoming a Boer?

Time with Tim?

He’s funny. [Tim Robbins] took me to my first Reggae, hip hop South African club and he was the only White dude dancing. I said, “Isn’t this the day when a brother is sitting down watching the White man dance?” He’s 6’5” so he can’t hide and you have people [at the club] saying, “Ho-o-o!! Shawshank!! Shawshank!!”

He’s a cool Kat and he has a big heart because he wanted to make sure all the extras were taken care of. You would have thought he was a union leader or something…He’s a great guy to be around and great for a younger actor.

He also told me, “Pace yourself Derek. You’re going too fast. After you do an intense scene, you need to tell them you need to inhale and get a break.” I said, “Yeah, YOU can do that!” He helped me navigate through the film.
  Derek Luke (October 5, 2006, Catch a Fire Press Junket)

Just Say No?

One of the things I learned early on was how to say no. Thank God I did. It’s hard to say no to millions of dollars…I had to do it the other day…I looked at being away from home for 3 months in a crucial year for both of my boys and I thought of hearing about Jack’s basketball games in Africa and I said, “I can’t do it.” My youngest is 14. So in about four years, I’ll become a total prostitute. 
  Tim Robbins (October 5, 2006, Catch a Fire Press Junket)

Genre(s)

Drama, History, Thriller

Phillip Noyce

Writer(s)

Shawn Slovo

Distributor

Focus Features (USA)

Filming Location(s)

• Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

• Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

• Mozambique

• Sasolburg, Free State, South Africa

• Swaziland

DVD Extras

Not Available

Official Site

Catch a Fire