Cry Freedom (1987)

Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) is the white editor of the Daily Dispatch Newspaper and is very critical of the views of Steve Biko (Denzel Washington), a charismatic South African Black Consciousness leader whose front-line role in the struggle for racial equality in South Africa causes him to be ”Banned”.

When Woods meets Biko face to face his perception begins to change and a friendship slowly develops between them. But Biko is killed in police custody.

Attempts by Woods to expose police complicity in the murder of Biko causes him and his family to become targets themselves. Now Woods must do all he can to reveal the truth about Biko’s death to the whole world but at the same time he fights for the safety of himself and his family.

A historical drama that portrays the true story of Steven Biko who was actually killed on 12 September 1977 in the custody of  the white-dominated South African police.

A Soldier's Story (1984)

United States Army Sergeant, Waters (Adolf Caesar) is an abusive light-skinned officer who relishes torturing and abusing the men who serve under him. Because of this he is not short of enemies.

When he is murdered, Captain Davenport (Howard Rollins., Jr) is given the job to fish out the people responsible for the murder. But the murderer could be any of the men.

The movie has very strong themes relating to Racism and Segregation.

DRAMA

Carbon Copy (1981)

Roger Porter (Denzel Washington) turns up at Walters office. Walter's  long-lost black son from a previous affair with a black woman has appeared.

Walter (George Segal) tries to take Roger back but both his wife and his Father-in-Law turns out to be a big problem as he is kicked out by his wife and then loses everything he owns, thanks to his Father-in-Law.

Penniless and now a manual laborer, Walter has to chose between his son and his former exalted position in life.

COMEDY, DRAMA.