AllMovie

This complex, often hard-hitting drama emerged from South Africa and is helmed by director John Kani, who adapted for the screen his play of the same title. The film takes an earnest, straightforward look at the complicated, often charged relationships between the black Africans who remained in the country to protest the social injustice of apartheid, and those who fled but later returned to the post-apartheid country in high spirits. The story takes place in New Brighton, South Africa, where Sipho Makhaya, a librarian in his early 60s, is still mourning the loss of his brother Themba. Though Themba had gone into exile in London, he also staked his claim as one of the champions of the anti-Apartheid movement. As Sipho prepares for the return of Themba's ashes, he also is denied a promotion at work, and begins to arrive at the conclusion that post-apartheid freedoms haven't been attained.