PK, an English orphan terrorized for his family's political beliefs in Africa, turns to his only friend, a kindly world-wise prisoner, Geel Piet. Geel teaches him how to box with the motto “fight with your fists and lead with your heart”. As he grows to manhood, PK uses these words to take on the system and the injustices he sees around him - and finds that one person really can make a difference.
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It's 1930 and PK is born 3 weeks after the death of his father. His mother struggles to maintain the farm. The penniless English boy is sent to an Afrikaans school. As the only English in school, he is brutally bullied by the Nazi loving Afrikaan boys. His mother dies and he is befriended by his grandfather's friend German exile Professor von Vollensteen 'Doc' (Armin Mueller-Stahl). When war breaks out, Doc is arrested as an illegal German despite the fact that the Nazis have killed all of his family. While spending most of his days in prison with Doc, he is taught boxing by Geel Piet (Morgan Freeman) and witnesses the cruelty against the prisoners. Geel Piet calls him the Rainmaker, the prophesied one who brings unity to all of the tribes. After the war, Doc goes home to Germany. PK (Stephen Dorff) goes to an English private school run by headmaster St. John (John Gielgud) where he falls for Maria whose father Professor Daniel Marais is a leading politician of the Nationalist Party of South Africa.Director John G. Avildsen does a reasonable job. The first half is a great movie. PK as a kid in the school and in prison is very compelling. I like the narration which gives it a feel of a fable. The prison actually makes PK a myth. The second half loses some of that sense. The second half is complicated by a romance and an unnecessary return of a character from the school. The combination makes the movie smaller while trying to take on such big issues. The boxing scenes aren't the best either. There are some of the best actors of all times at work here. Daniel Craig makes his debut. It's set up for it to be a great movie but turns into something less.
The book was excellent, but the movie has distorted the theme greatly. The book is more about Peekay over coming his trials. Not a political agenda for apartheid. through-out the book you can feel the injustice, but again that is not the theme. Somebody has an ax to grind and they have destroyed a great book in the process. There were many issues of human suffering and heartache, from many different sources. They came from religious fanaticism, male dominance, government interventions and and multiracial and multicultural issue from the empire building enterprises of many nations of that time period. There were many very important parts of the book eliminated from the movie altogether that make the story much more engaging and important to the character development of Peekay and his supporters. Do yourself a favor and read the book and appreciate what a great story it really is.
I have read the book. For me, it was a sentimental journey. A chance, to relive the past, my past, a journey worth re-visiting.This movie, is propaganda. And it is built on the worst type of propaganda, that which revolves around being Politically Correct, while at the same time avoiding any truth. The original book is based on complete tragedy. Only the book can convey to you the reader, the losses that PK felt. This movie is such an insult, I shall always tell people to read the book, and to avoid the movie. Any and all the bare any love to me that they may profess, will honour my wishes. This movie, is based on the book, but in very few ways reflects the book, or it's author.This movie does not reflect the book. This movie, even though it stars such wonderful actors as Morgan Freeman, a man, that I personally love, is not worth anything.Read the book. Avoid the movie.
Its about a young English boy growing up in Africa during the time of World War 2 and when Hitler was in power. He helps the African men and women achieve equality and shows them how important an education is. It was an AMAZING movie. We started watching it in religion class and I had 2 go out and buy it because i couldn't wait another day 2 finish it. It gives a great message about helping others and racism and all of that. The Power of One is a brilliant movie. Brendan Deary(little PK) was awesome in it. He was so cute, his facial expressions and everything . Anyways, I highly recommend it. I just have put this movie on 1 of my top lists. It could possibly be my favorite movie now. Top notch movie.
