CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY, the BAFTA nominated film of the acclaimed novel by Alan Paton is finally available in the UK on Blu Ray. A rare and timely film, dealing with the on the ground realities of apartheid. A black Anglican minister, Stephen Kumalo (Canada Lee), is stationed in a regional parish. He lives a quiet life of teaching and tenderness. South Africa is  awash with division and double standard but he has avoided direct conflict with this hypocrisy. That is until his son, Absolom, is caught up in a terrible set of circumstances. He must leave the small village and travel to the city. Face to face with the poverty of the Johannesburg slums, supported only by a Reverend Msimangu (Sidney Poitier), it will be the making of the man into a force for change.

It is a delight to say that finally, CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY is out for all to see. Now its not that its had a troubled release, more that some in this world of ours, hate the film and all it stands for. Made by a British Jew, about the South Africa of hate and division, it is the sort of film, film makers do not make any more. Bold, frank, sometimes refreshing in its stripped down sensibilities. Zoltan Korda was a director of British adventure films and then moved to Hollywood to make message films. He was not hard as nails but his films, in particular A WOMENS VENGENCE, THE MACOMBE AFFAIR and SAHARA. But what you get with Zoltan Korda CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY is a masterly and dare I say, Korda best work. The real power of the piece lay with boxer turned actor Canada Lee, who in a very late performance, turned in a performance of humanity and humility. The extras explore some of his work through interviews and Alan Paton discussion of the work and producing it. I would strongly advise this as a film you must own.

Extras: Canada Lee: An interview with Mona Z Smith / An interview with Lionel Ngakane (1990) / In Darkest Hollywood / African Mirror footage of The World Premiere / Africa: Alan Paton (1962) / Behind the Scenes Stills gallery