Film Reviews by kw

The plot is a bit rubbish but the film itself is marvellous. Paul Robeson described it as his favourite, being the only one where his portrayal of a real character (as opposed to a stereotype) wasn't edited out in the cutting room. I think this was the first occasion in which a film portrayed a black man as a hero. And of course his wonderful voice will send shivers down your spine! Well worth viewing.

I expected the film to be in Portuguese with subtitles, rather jarring to hear portuguese peasants speaking with US accents while tying up obviously fake rose garlands to decorate their village, couldn't take any more!

I gave it 15 minutes, but didn't find it engaging at all. I'm sure it was important and satisfying to make for the authors, but it didn't speak to me.

Extremely powerful, shocking and heartbreaking film. Dreadfully sad, but ultimately uplifting, quite unique. I've never watched a film that so made me want to take action.