Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens on May 4.
I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
A WORLD APART
In June, 1963 South Africa, Molly
Roth is upset because her father has to flee the country to avoid arrest for
his anti-apartheid activities. Molly wants to enjoy a normal middle class life,
but her mother, Diana Roth works for an
anti-government newspaper and is so involved in her work that Molly doesn’t
think she pays attention to her. Molly sees where her Mom keeps secret
documents hidden in her desk. Molly is friendly with their Maid Elsie, but
wonders why her brother Solomon comes to see her mother. The police raid a mixed-race party held on
Diana’s birthday May 4, 1964. [20:16 to 24:24]. The other girls at Molly’s
private school start abusing her because of her father. One morning her mother
takes Molly to a protest march. One day her grandmother picks her up at school
and when they return home find that the police are searching the house and her
mother is being arrested and Molly is heartbroken and upset. Diana is held in
solitary and Molly refuses to go to school. Diana resists interrogation and when
Molly returns to school, everyone ignores her except for her one friend,
Yvonne. Soon even Yvonne tries to distance herself and her family keeps her
away from Molly. One day Molly goes with their Maid Elsie to her home in Soweto
and attends a protest meeting led by Solomon.
The police come, break up the meeting and arrest Solomon. Then her
grandmother has to go away for a rest and Molly has to go to boarding school.
Muller tries to get Diana to confess. Molly and her sisters finally get to see
her mother. Diana is let out after 90 days, but is immediately rearrested.
Diana tries to kill herself and so is released to 24 hour house arrest. Then
Elsie gets word that her brother Solomon has died in police custody. Molly
finds her mother’s hidden suicide note. She and her mother have an emotional
argument about her suicide attempt and Molly’s feelings of being ignored. They
both go to Solomon’s funeral, even though Diana is not supposed to leave the
house. At the end Molly raises her fist in the Black Power salute along with
her mother, signifying she has finally come to accept and support what her
parents are doing. The police arrive
to arrest everyone at the funeral.
A very good political drama and
coming-of-age story. The film tells the story of the anti-apartheid movement,
while also telling the story of a girl who grows up. Molly finally come to
realize that neither her country nor her parents are perfect.
At 1:25 we are told this film is
based on a true story. At 23:52 we are told it’s Diana’s birthday. Ruth First,
whom Diana was based on, was born on May 4, 1925.
Director - Chris Menges
Producer - Sarah Radclyffe
Screenplay - Shawn Slovo
Runtime – 1 hour 53 minutes
Released - June 17, 1988
Starring –
Jodhi May as Molly Roth
Jeroen Krabbé as Gus Roth
Barbara Hershey as Diana Roth
Linda Mvusi as Elsie
Carolyn Clayton-Cragg as Myriam Roth
David Suchet as Muller
Albee Lesotho as Solomon Mapusa
Nadine Chalmers as Yvonne Abelson
Kate Fitzpatrick as June Abelson
Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.
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