Catch a Fire

"The spark that ignites us, unites us."

2006 1h 41m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 155

ActionDramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The true story of anti-apartheid activists in South Africa, and particularly the life of Patrick Chamusso, a timid foreman at Secunda CTL, the largest synthetic fuel plant in the world. Patrick is wrongly accused, imprisoned and tortured for an attempt to bomb the plant, with the injustice transforming the apolitical worker into a radicalised insurgent, who then carries out his own successful sabotage mission.

“The spark that ignites us, unites us.”

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Cast

Tim Robbins
Nic Vos
Derek Luke
Patrick Chamusso
Bonnie Mbuli
Precious Chamusso
Mncedisi Shabangu
Zuko September
Tumisho Masha
Obadi
Sithembiso Khumalo
Sixpence
Terry Pheto
Miriam
Michele Burgers
Anna Vos

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Phillip Noyce
Writers: Shawn Slovo
Languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu
Countries: France, United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 41% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 20 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: France, United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Phillip Noyce, shot by Ron Fortunato. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Philip Miller. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jill Bilcock shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Tim Robbins and Derek Luke and Bonnie Mbuli carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Phillip Noyce directs. Ron Fortunato behind the camera. Philip Miller scores. Jill Bilcock cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in France, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English, Afrikaans, Zulu.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 41% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 20 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu.
4International production across 3 countries: France, United Kingdom, United States of America.
5Directed by Phillip Noyce, shot by Ron Fortunato. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Philip Miller. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Jill Bilcock shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Tim Robbins and Derek Luke and Bonnie Mbuli carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "The spark that ignites us, unites us.".
10IMDB entry: tt0437232 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.