Aussie director Phillip Noyce broke into the Hollywood scene after his best and most excellent film NEWSFRONT way back in 1978.  NEWSFRONT still remains one of the most memorable Australian films of all time.  It is therefore of great excitement to see Noyce tackle once again events based on a true story.

Set during the South African apartheid era (Noyce includes some footage of Mandela with his speeches), CATCH A FIRE centres on real life African National Congress’ most respected militant, Patrick Chamusso (Derek Duke).  He works as a foreman at an oil refinery.  When an explosion occurs, circumstances are not in his favour.  He and wife, Precious (Bonnie Henna) are tortured in order to confess.  The result is an anger so strong that it forces him (Patrick) to join the ANC’s military wing.

Director Noyce holds out on the violence, beatings and torture, most occurring off screen, concentrating on the human drama instead.  The transformation of Patrick from quiet sympathizer to rebel is believable.  Patrick’s adversary, security chief Nic Vos (Tim Robbins) is also shown to be a man of reason rather than a brainless mechanical soldier.  When questioned by his colleagues on the reason for not arresting an obviously innocent man who nevertheless confessed, his reply is that the bombings will continue.  Noyce’s decision to include scenes of Vos with his family heightens the reality of the conflict of the two men (Patrick and Vos) This works when the men are shown as human beings (Patrick for the children soccer team and Vos for his daughter) both their strengths and weaknesses.  Robbins and Duke provide convincing performances.  The only problem is Noyce’s occasionally switch of the film to thriller mode, example the breaking into the refinery by Vos which takes away what he has built up in credibility.

The credits blend in shots of actor Duke and the real Patrick Chamusso, now released from jail.  The final shot of him and the school/shelter he started truly convinces that Chamusso is a very good man whose only sin in life is following his heart too closely.