What’s the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter? Catch a Fire, an extraordinary political thriller based on true events, suggests the answer to that question depends on which side you’re on. And this outstanding film clearly demonstrates how false accusations and torture can turn a peaceful, ordinary individual into someone with another agenda entirely. Yes, there’s a timely lesson in Catch a Fire -- but it doesn’t come across in a heavy-handed, preachy way.

The story takes place in South Africa during the 1980s when apartheid was in full sway. Tim Robbins plays Police Colonel Nic Vos, chief of anti-terrorist activities, and Derek Luke is Patrick Chamusso, an oil refinery foreman and soccer coach with no interest or involvement in politics. However, after Patrick -- a flawed but innocent man -- and his wife are jailed, then tortured by Voss and his underlings during a bombing investigation, he becomes a dedicated freedom fighter against the oppressive white regime.

Because both Vos and Chamusso are men who love their families, that part of their lives assumes a key role in their intense interactions. Chamusso’s wife (portrayed by an impressive new actress named Bonnie Henna) can’t help being jealous of the attention her husband receives from other women, so when Vos realizes this, he uses it in his plans to capture Patrick. 

The performances in Catch a Fire are superb. Robbins (Mystic River), adopting a convincing South African Dutch accent, made my skin crawl with his believable portrayal of an almost sadistic chief interrogator who will stop at nothing in his fight against anti-apartheid zealots. To him, of course, they are communist terrorists, not freedom fighters. And Luke even tops his fine work in Antwone Fisher here. He effectively displays a roller-coaster range of emotions as a man who goes from being a peaceful family man to someone filled with rage.

Prospective viewers should be warned that the torture scenes in Catch a Fire are very hard to watch. Also, the film gets off to a slow start -- which seems necessary in order to set the stage and contrast the main characters -- but once the suspense kicks in, it’s a riveting and involving experience. Although much of the credit goes to Robbins and Luke, Phillip Noyce deserves considerable praise for his masterful director's touch. After watching this movie and Rabbit-Proof Fence, I'm convinced Noyce is one of our best current filmmakers. Granted, his Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger blockbusters proved he could deliver slam-bang action, but now we know he’s equally good at creating movies that blend intense human feelings with explosive cinematic thrills.

(Released by Focus Features and rated “PG-13” for thematic material involving torture and other violence and brief language.)