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Windprints is a 1989 film starring Kurt Egelhof, Lesley Fong, and Dana Niehaus. The movie is set in South Africa and follows a journalist named Sarah Barcant (Lesley Fong) who returns to her homeland to cover the trial of a black activist named Steve Biko (Kurt Egelhof). Sarah has a personal connection to the case since her own father was killed by the police during the apartheid regime. As she investigates the story, she uncovers long-buried secrets about her past and the country's painful history.

The movie opens with a scene of Steve Biko being arrested by the police. Sarah has been living and working in America, but when she hears about Biko's trial, she decides to return to South Africa. She is hesitant to come back to the country where her father was killed, but she feels a responsibility to report on the story of Biko, who represents a voice for the oppressed black community.

As Sarah begins to uncover information about Biko's case, she discovers that the government is covering up evidence of his mistreatment while in custody. She meets with one of his friends, a rancher named Dirk Hendricks (Tommy Lee Jones), who is also fighting against the government's oppression of the black community. Dirk has his own reasons for helping Sarah, and the two form an unlikely alliance.

Through Sarah's interactions with Dirk and other characters, the audience is given a glimpse into the societal issues that plagued South Africa during apartheid. The movie covers topics such as racism, police brutality, and the struggle for human rights that were being fought for by the black community. This gives the audience an idea of the gravity of the case that Sarah is covering and the cultural implications of the trial.

As Sarah continues to dig deeper into Biko's case, she begins to have vivid flashbacks of her own childhood. It is revealed that Sarah's father was a journalist who was killed by the police for speaking out against the government's policies. These memories are painful for Sarah, but they help her contextualize her role in the trial and gain a deeper understanding of her own identity.

Despite the emotional weight of the subject matter, there are moments of levity throughout the movie. There is a particular scene where Sarah and Dirk are being chased by the police, and they wind up stuck in a mud-filled riverbed. As they try to extricate themselves from the situation, Dirk jokingly makes quips about their misadventure. This scene serves to break up the intense drama of the rest of the film and humanizes the characters.

Windprints is a slow-burner, with a deliberate pace and subdued performances from the actors. Director David Wicht uses the natural beauty of the South African landscape to great effect, juxtaposing it with the harsh realities of apartheid. While the film is set during a specific time and place, the themes of social injustice and human rights are timeless and the movie still resonates today.

Overall, Windprints is a well-crafted and deeply affecting film. The performances of the actors are understated yet powerful, and the direction immerses the audience in the story. The movie manages to tackle heavy topics without being didactic or heavy-handed, and it is a testament to the filmmakers' skills that they are able to do so. If you are a fan of dramas that explore complex social issues, Windprints is definitely worth a watch.

Windprints is a 1990 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0.