Apartheid-era South Africa is a country riddled with conflict. Directed by Philip Noyce (The Quiet American, Patriot Games) Catch A Fire tells the real life story of Patrick Chamusso, husband, father and ultimately freedom fighter. Told through the eyes of South Africans, the film vividly captures the moving journey of a quiet living man who is spurred into action by the oppression and violence of the ruling regime.Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke – Antwone Fisher) works as a foreman at the Secunda oil refinery in north-east South Africa. Apolitical, he lives a quiet life with his loving wife, Precious (Bonnie Henna), and his two young daughters. Life may not be perfect for Patrick – unbeknownst to his wife he has a child by another woman – but, in a country consumed by unrest, Patrick and his family are grateful for their small corner of near-happiness.Their world is turned upside down and Patrick is brutally forced to confront the tyrannical Apartheid regime when he is wrongly arrested for terrorism. His absence from work on the day an explosion rocks Secunda arouses suspicion among the authorities, headed by the shrewd Nic Vos (Tim Robbins - Academy Award ® Winner and star of The Shawshank Redemption and War Of The Worlds).
Vos’ seemingly pleasant demeanour belies the atrocities that take place on his orders. Patrick is hauled in for questioning, repeatedly beaten and confined in a dirty cell.
When he refuses to admit responsibility for the bombing of the oil refinery, his wife is brought in and suffers similar brutality at the hands of Vos’ men. It is at this point that Patrick, broken and stunned, confesses to everything.
The content of his false confession convinces Vos of Patrick’s innocence and both he and Precious are permitted to return home, but life will never be the same.
Patrick seeks vengeance and resolves to become the man the authorities arrested him for being. Leaving his family, he heads to the ANC (African National Congress) base located in Mozambique where he plans an audacious attack on his former place of work, the oil refinery at Secunda.
Forming strong bonds with fellow members of the ANC, Patrick begins a new existence with a sense of purpose born from the scars inflicted on him by South Africa’s ruling minority.
While Patrick trains hard for his mission, Precious is left alone at home, leading a fragile life under close surveillance by Vos.
The tension rises as Patrick re-enters South Africa and makes for Secunda under cover of night, hotly pursued by Vos and his men. It is a race against time to strike a blow for freedom and weaken the hold of the Apartheid regime.
Now you can bear witness to one of the darkest and most important chapters in history and experience the incredible and emotionally charged story of a man who fought for freedom with the courage and bravery of a true hero.
Catch A Fire is avaliable to rent and buy from 17 July.