“Catch a Fire”: New Film Depicts Life of South African Freedom Fighter Patrick Chamusso

Torture... Terrorism... Indefinite detention... These are phrases that have become common post 9-11. Well, today we take a look at a new film about South Africa under apartheid rule – a regime where torture and indefinite detention were commonplace for most of the population and the label terrorist was applied to those seeking to end apartheid and bring democracy to the country. The film is called “Catch a Fire”, and it tells the story of black South African freedom-fighter - Patrick Chamusso.

Patrick was a foreman at the Secunda oil refinery, which was a symbol of South Africa’s economic might at a time when the world was protesting the country’s apartheid system. Patrick leaves his job and family to join up with the African National Congress and becomes a rebel fighter and political operative. Patrick eventually plans a crucial strike against Secunda.

“Catch a Fire” is written by Shawn Slovo who is the daughter of the legendary anti-apartheid activists - Joe Slovo and Ruth First. Joe Slovo was one of the founders of Umkhonto we Sizwe - or MK - which was the armed wing of the African National Congress. He was general secretary of the South African Communist Party during the 1980s.

* Tim Robbins. Academy Award winning actor, writer and prodcuer. He won an oscar for his performance in Mystic River.

* Robyn Slovo. She is the producer of "Catch a Fire" and the daughter of anti-apartheid activists Ruth First and Joe Slovo.

LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/10/13/1359229