adonis98-743-186503 In this story of a black policeman during South African apartheid, Danny Glover plays the cop, who believes he's trying to help his people, even while serving as a pawn of the racist government. When his son gets involved in the anti-apartheid movement, he finds himself torn between his family (including long-suffering wife Alfre Woodard) and what he believes is his duty. Danny Glover and Alfre Woodard give 2 powerful and moving perfomances in Bopha! and Malcom McDowell is excellent as the "villain" of the movie. Now where the film misses the mark it's within it's pacing which drags sometimes and an ending that was ridiculous and awful that didn't even bother explaining some things, Morgan Freeman's direction is sharp and well made and for the most part the film is watchable but it had potential for more. (6.5/10)

DaMond Taylor (dpt32) I've recently seen Bopha again and every time I see this film I am inspired. Morgan Freeman's direction is really something to behold. Rent this movie, see it, the quality of the direction and acting is top notch. There is one scene with Alfred Woodard, where Morgan Freeman skillful uses four or five different angles without cutting once. The tones and color of this movie really captures the beauty of South Africa which brilliantly juxtaposed against the horror and brutality of apartheid. I don't think this film was nominated for anything but of course the crimes and misdemeanors of films like this are nothing new. See this film its important that films like this and Schindlers list are kept in the public consciousness.

Lee Eisenberg Morgan Freeman's directorial debut casts Danny Glover as a cop in apartheid-era South Africa whose son is an anti-apartheid activist. Knowing this, the father has to choose between his people and his job: he basically betrayed his people, but he has to support his family.True, this seems like a plot that we frequently see, but "Bopha!" (Zulu for "arrest") makes good use of it. They raise the stakes by portraying a new white supremacist police chief (Malcolm McDowell). And also impressive was that scene where the students leave school to protest the teaching of Afikaans (my mom said that they used to show that sort of scene on TV all the time). A really good movie.

Alfabeta -SPOILERS- ------------PLOTMicah Mangena (Danny Glover) is a police commander of town Moraro in South African Republic in 1980, where Apartheid is still the only way of life. He loves his job and does it the best he knows how (which in his mind means following orders to the letter). De Villiers (Malcolm McDowell) is a chief of Special Units Team, witch arrive in town, because of the rising danger of protest, which might spread from areas around Moraro. At the same time, new generation of cadets is about to become part of SAP (South African Police) core. Micah's son is one of them, but has great doubts about his future employment. Soon everything will start to change dramatically, when secret student meeting, inspired by an idea of change, occurs.-----------To quote the beginning of the movie: In Zulu language Bopha means detention. In movie, every protester, who is captured by the police is being on indefinite detention (until special forces say he can go).Danny Glover is just great. He plays perfectly, a man who did his job for so long with so much heart, that he is unable to react properly, when that same job becomes a machinery of oppression. There are three things you can do in Moraro, in his opinion. Work in mine in slave like condition, to be without a job, and to be a member of SAP (as the most honorable of three)... He does the job to support his family, but ironically that same job will endanger it in the end. Vicious Malcolm McDowell is also great and a perfect cast for a mercy-less representative of Pretoria and hunter for leaders of student protests. The rest of the cast is also very impressive. They all try to pull out the SA accent and this gives a lot credit for a realistic representation. The screenplay, has a few small illogical turns, but it is a very strong writing... The movie is based on a play by Percy Mtwa, that made a lot of unrest in those days (20 years ago)...Morgan Freeman as a director (this is new) does also a fine job. He made a fine peace of human drama and it goes side by side with Hollywood products, with obvious smaller budget, but without pathetic moments. To bad Mr. Freeman didn't continue to direct. If you like human right movies and family dramas this is for you... I give 8 to this movie.