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Film Study Activity for
Democratic and Authoritarian Regime Lesson Plan
Provided by Ottawa Carleton District School Board
Last updated: June 2006
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Renfrew County Catholic
District School Board
Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
A film study to launch our study of Democratic principles in class.
Cry Freedom
1987 American Film featuring :
Denzel Washington as Stephen Biko, and Kevin Kline as Donald Woods
This is a real story about South Africa
under the Afrikaner Apartheid Government Regime,
which was in place from 1948 until 1990.
1.
In the opening scene, what appears to happen at the Crossroads settlement?
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2.
Listen carefully – when the scene changes - how was what happened at the
Crossroads settlement reported on the radio news?
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3.
Cinematography:
Take notes on the images in contrast throughout the film.
White areas of South Africa
Black areas of South Africa
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Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
4.
Character development:
Take notes on both men throughout the film (who?what?where?why?how?)
Stephen Biko
5.
Donald Woods
Listen carefully! What does Donald Woods mean when he claims:
he will not support White Supremacists and White prejudice, nor will he
support Black Supremacists and Black prejudice?
Do you agree with his analogy (comparison)?
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6.
i)
List a minimum of 3 distinct conditions of the bans on both men:
Stephen Biko
Donald Woods
i)
ii)
ii)
iii)
iii)
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Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
7.
Why were the men banned?
Stephen Biko
Donald Woods
8. What are the living conditions for Black South Africans (Bantus) under
Apartheid? (list 5 examples)
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9. Listen carefully! What is Black Consciousness?
(Biko defines this at his trial)
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10. Why does Biko risk breaking his ban rules in order to take Woods to a Black
“Bantu” settlement?
11. Why is Biko a witness at the trial?
12. What happened at the community center after the trial? Why did this happen?
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Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
13. What are 3 consequences of Woods going to visit Krueger (Minister of Police) to
complain about what happened at the community centre?
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14. What happened to Biko between August 18th, 1977 and September 11th, 1977?
15. What happened to Biko => “We will take him to the police hospital in Pretoria”
700 km away, shackled and naked.
16. What does Krueger claim are the official inquest findings on the death of Biko?
17. Why is Biko pictured with the words “Biko & Solidarity” and the image of two
hands with broken chains?
18. Why does the Woods family have to secretly escape from South Africa?
19. What advantages did Donald Woods have in helping the Black Consciousness
movement, that Biko did not have?
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20. End of film. What is the significance of the student uprising in Soweto in 1976, to
Biko’s Black Consciousness movement?
21. What is the meaning of the title of the film Cry Freedom?
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Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
Afterword…
Donald Woods published his book “Biko” and it is currently available online.
**In 1990, South Africa held the first free elections – in which Nelson Mandela became
South Africa’s first Black President.
***After the dismantling of the Apartheid regime, the new democratic government put in
place the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. This was done to allow all those who
suffered under Apartheid the right to tell their stories of abuse and violence and to
confront the perpetrators. All criminals were granted Amnesty if they told the truth about
the crimes committed. The government hoped that this process would allow South
African’s to heal as a people and move forward as a nation. Stephen Biko’s wife,
children and supporters were against this process as nobody is punished for their
actions.
Personal Reflection Questions:
A) Had you lived in South Africa as a Black person under Apartheid, would you have
been satisfied with the Truth & Reconciliation Commission? Why or why not?
B) Do you believe Biko and Woods committed crimes which warranted the
treatment they received from the Apartheid government? Explain.
C) Do you think these types of events could happen in Canada? Why or why not?
D) What do you know of the Security certificates, which Canadian police can use to
apprehend suspected “terrorists” currently?
Activity#3, Democratic and Authoritarian Regimes, June 2006
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Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
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Lesson Plan Title:
Activity#3, Democratic and Authoritarian Regimes, June 2006
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