Editing Cry Freedom (section)

==Plot==
Following a news story depicting the demolition of a slum in [[East London, Eastern Cape|East London]] in the south-east of the [[Cape Province]] in [[South Africa]], [[Liberalism in South Africa|liberal]] [[white South African]] journalist [[Donald Woods]] seeks more information about the incident and ventures off to meet the [[Internal resistance to apartheid|anti-Apartheid]] black activist [[Steve Biko]], a leading member of the [[Black Consciousness Movement]]. Biko has been officially [[banning order|''banned'']] by the [[Government of South Africa|government]] and is not permitted to leave his defined 'banning area' at [[King William's Town]]. Woods is opposed to Biko's banning, but remains critical of his political views. Biko invites Woods to visit a black [[Township (South Africa)|township]] to see the impoverished conditions and to witness the effect of the Government-imposed restrictions, which make up the [[apartheid]] system. Woods begins to agree with Biko's desire for a South Africa where blacks have the same opportunities and freedoms as those enjoyed by the [[White South Africans|white population]]. As Woods comes to understand Biko's point of view, a friendship slowly develops between them.

After speaking at a gathering of black South Africans outside of his banishment zone, Biko is arrested and interrogated by the South African security forces (who have been tipped off by an informer). Following this, he is brought to court in order to explain his message directed toward the South African Government, which is [[White minority rule|white minority-controlled]]. After he speaks eloquently in court and advocates non-violence, the security officers who interrogated him visit his church and vandalise the property. Woods assures Biko that he will meet with a Government official to discuss the matter. Woods then meets with [[Jimmy Kruger]] ([[John Thaw]]), the South African Minister of Justice, in his house in [[Pretoria]] in an attempt to prevent further abuses. Minister Kruger first expresses discontent over their actions; however, Woods is later harassed at his home by security forces, who insinuate that their orders came directly from Kruger.

Later, Biko travels to [[Cape Town]] to speak at a student-run meeting. ''[[wikt:en route|En route]]'', security forces stop his car and arrest him asking him to say his name, and he says, "[[Bantu peoples|Bantu]] Stephen Biko". He is held in harsh conditions and beaten, causing a severe brain injury. A doctor recommends consulting a nearby specialist in order to best treat his injuries, but the police refuse out of fear that he might escape. The security forces instead decide to take him to a police hospital in [[Pretoria]], around {{convert|700|mi|km|sigfig=2}} away from Cape Town. He is thrown into the back of a prison van and driven on a bumpy road, aggravating his brain injury and resulting in his death.

Woods then works to expose the police's complicity in Biko's death. He attempts to expose photographs of Biko's body that contradict police reports that he died of a [[hunger strike]], but he is prevented just before boarding a plane to leave and informed that he is now 'banned', therefore not able to leave the country. Woods and his family are targeted in a campaign of harassment by the security police, including bullets fired into the family home, vandalism, and the delivery of t-shirts with Biko's image that have been dusted with [[itching powder]]. He later decides to seek asylum in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] in order to expose the corrupt and racist nature of the South African authorities. After a long [[Backpacking (hiking)|trek]], Woods is eventually able to escape to the [[Kingdom of Lesotho]], disguised as a priest. His wife [[Wendy Woods|Wendy]] and their family later join him. With the aid of Australian journalist [[Bruce Haigh]], the [[British High Commission]] in [[Maseru]], and the [[Government of Lesotho]], they are flown under [[United Nations Laissez-Passer|United Nations passports]] and with one Lesotho official over South African territory, via [[Botswana]], to [[London]], where they were granted [[political asylum]].

The film's epilogue displays a long list of anti-[[apartheid]] activists (including Biko), who died under suspicious circumstances while imprisoned by the Government whilst the song [[Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika]] is sung.