Cry the Beloved Country

This is not the usual escapist type film turned out by Hollywood: it is not even a comedy. Adapted from the novel by Alan Paton it attempts to present to non-Africans the evils resulting from the policy of racial segregation. Mr. Paton does not attempt to give a new policy But he sees all around him fear, resulting in chaos. His altitude is best summed up in two paragraphs from ins novel, which, as a character says in it is "beautiful beyond any singing of it."

"Cry, the beloved country, for the new-born child who is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingeers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veldt with tire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or valley. For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much.

"Who knows how we shall fashion such a land? For we fear not only the loss of our superiority and the loss of our whiteness. Some say that it is true that crime is bad, but would not this be worse? is it not better to hold what we have, and to pay the price of it with fear? And others say, can such fear be endured? For it is not fear that drives men to ponder these things at all?"

The script for the film version is unaltered from the novel, but unfortunately the continuity of the film is broken by bad editing. Isolated incidents occur which are treated more fully in the novel; the judge at the trial of Absolam Kumalo gives a very line speech in summing up: there is a fruitless appeal for clemency, etc.

Canada Lee as Rev. Stephen Kumalo, the Anglican minister, plays his part magnificently. Charles Carson as the elderly European who has no grudge against the natives but is prevented by prejudice from being openly on the same level as them, also plays his part well.

Here is truth and indeed a poignant sincerity; there is no superfluous sentimentalism here. The author and co-director deserve commendation for this production, but I feel that full Justice has not been done to the available material The shots from the train moving into Johannesburg city symbolises the bewilderment of the native priest as he loo enters this huge and living community, which contains a fear of——what?

It would be impossible to do full justice to this film in a brief review. Were it not for the lack of continuity in parts it would qualify for the five-star grading. As it is.

Grading: ****