Troubled souls in a past land of conflict form the basis of Zoltan Korda’s 1951 adaptation of the novel CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY. The film has been remastered in 4K by StudioCanal for their ‘Vintage Classics’ label on Blu-Ray.
Adapted by the source novel’s writer Alan Paton in a movie that reflects much of the apartheid mindset that defined a period in South Africa’s history, Korda’s vision focuses on the conflicting contrast between a white landowner, Jarvis (Charles Carson) and a Zulu priest, Kumalo (Canada Lee in his final film role).
After receiving a letter, Kumalo travels from his rural village to Johannesburg to seek out the whereabouts of his son. Robbed by persuasion by a street hustler, he ends up at a local church run by two priests (Geoffrey Keen in a role decades before being a senior official in the Moore and Dalton Bond films, Sidney Poitier in an early film role).
However, the mystery of his son deepens when he confronts his employer and a woman he wants to marry. The consequences of their lives are about to be entwined when the local troubles of the haves and have-nots take shape….
Interesting viewing in the context of modern day reflections on colonialism and inclusivity, as well as being a film that also has something to say about the contemporary issues that were affecting a nation being split apart by racial discourse and apartheid. However, there is also a sensitively-handled drama that does highlight a dual perspective that attempts to tap into the more important context and subtext which is bubbling under.
The 4K restoration remastered in 1.33:1 Academy format, supervised by StudioCanal, is striking and the Blu-Ray disc also comes with some interesting archive extras. Fans of Poitier will certainly find something to see here in light of the late legend’s own legacy explored in his own recent documentary.
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