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Movies / On DVD / The Power of One
The Power of One

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The Power of One (1992)

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Reviews Counted:10

Fresh:6

Rotten:4

Average Rating:5.8/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 7 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Synopsis: Based on the novel by Bryce Courtenay and set against the racial strife of 1930s South Africa, THE POWER OF ONE is a spirited tale of a young boy's fight against oppression starring Stephen Dorff... Based on the novel by Bryce Courtenay and set against the racial strife of 1930s South Africa, THE POWER OF ONE is a spirited tale of a young boy's fight against oppression starring Stephen Dorff as P.K., a lonely English orphan who is forced to endure racial hatred at an exclusive Afrikaaner boarding school. Perpetually the outsider, he is constantly tormented by his British-bashing classmates. With the onset of WWII, P.K. is taken in by Doc (Armin Mueller-Stahl), a liberal German scientist, and becomes his ward while incarcerated in a political prison. In prison, he meets Geel Piet (Morgan Freeman), a strong African boxer who teaches him the power of African myth, dialect, and the fine art of boxing. Armed with motivation and a new way to defend his beliefs, P.K. is able to start over at a more liberal high school, where he grows into a young man tempered by the racism and violence surrounding him. P.K.'s battle for personal and political freedom becomes a quest for racial equality and respect. He goes against convention and, with an African friend, ventures into the segregated townships to teach reading. Ultimately, P.K.'s actions leave his schoolmates irate--forcing him to enter the ring to fight for freedom. Director John G. Avildsen's inspirational and triumphant epic of one boy's battle against hatred and oppression is set to a moving African score composed by Hans Zimmer, featuring the music of the Masibemunye Bulawayo Choir. [More]

Starring: Stephen Dorff, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Morgan Freeman, Guy Witcher

Starring: Stephen Dorff, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Morgan Freeman, Guy Witcher, Simon Fenton, John Gielgud

Director: John G. Avildsen

Director: John G. Avildsen

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Power of One

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1 - 17 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
05/20/08
Variety
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No review available.

comment Comment
09/23/05
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
International Press Academy

No review available.

comment Comment
06/30/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
N/R

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Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/30/04
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
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No review available.

comment Comment
07/08/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
01/29/04
Randy Shulman
Randy Shulman
Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

Mushy

comment Comment
08/02/03
John Esther
John Esther
Pasadena Weekly

A startling film about a young South African boy's coming of age under the tutelage of three spiritual elders.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
07/18/03
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

No review available.

comment Comment
10/31/02
Brian J. Arthurs
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)

No review available.

comment Comment
07/25/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
05/12/01
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
N/R

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Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post

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Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
N/R

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Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Rita Kempley
Rita Kempley
Washington Post

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Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
01/01/00
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
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