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South African freedom fighter Patrick
Chamusso appears awestruck as he stands
in a balcony of the Elgin Theater
acknowledging cheers from the crowds
who'd just seen his life story depicted
powerfully in the world premiere of
"Catch a Fire." (L.A. Times photos by
Tom O'Neil)
. . . last
night's world premiere of "Catch a Fire"
at the Elgin, Toronto's grandest old
theater. It's a gripping pic telling the
real story of Patric k
Chamusso, a South African black man who
became so outraged by the horrors
inflicted upon him and family by the
Apartheid regime that he made the
painful decision to give up his family
and join the rebel movement so he could
blow up the energy plant where he
worked. Actor Derek Luke nails his raw
rage and shattered soul so impressively
that he's a strong candidate to get the
best actor nomination that he should've
received for Oscar-gypped "Antwone
Fisher." "Catch a Fire" could catch fire
in other top Oscar categories, too,
including best picture and director
(Phillip Noyce, who's also helmed
"Rabbit Proof Fence" and "The Quiet
American"). The movie is that well made
and devastating to watch, especially at
the end when Noyce pulls a "Schindler's
List" and merges his screen rendition of
yesterday with what's real and survives
today.
In the last
few minutes of "Catch a Fire," in an
effectively handled switcheroo, we
suddenly meet the contemporary Chamusso,
who addresses the audience to tell us
the resolution of the last scene
depicted in the story and to bring us up
to date on what he's done since (he's
turned his home into an orphanage) and
what he learned from all of it.
The audience was knocked out. They
whooped, cheered, wept and whistled as
the credits rolled and the house lights
did not come up. Then, suddenly and
quite theatrically, an announcer's voice
boomed through the dark... "Ladies and
gentleman, please welcome Mr. Patrick
Chamusso!"
A spotlight flooded a side balcony above
my head where a man stood up and looked
out, thunderstruck, at a scene he surely
never imagined long ago when he rotted —
bruised, bloodied and starved — in an
African prison.The massive crowd cheered
him widely, calling out his name, some
even jumping up in the air as if trying
to touch him on high. Chamusso appeared
emotionless at first, then smiled with
amazement and gratitude as tears rolled
down his face, finally extinguishing a
hell fire he once dared to catch.
Everyone wept in that theater last
night. Everyone followed a brave
soldier.
Read the full review here -
http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2006/09/toronto_fest_th.html
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