Something of Value

Something of Value

Year: 1957

Runtime: 113 mins

Language: English

Director: Richard Brooks

WarDrama

Set amid Kenya’s Mau Mau uprising, which tears the country apart, former childhood friends Kimani (Sidney Poitier), a native, and Peter (Rock Hudson), a British colonist, find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Each is devoted to his cause yet longs for a moderate, peaceful solution, but their hopes are shattered by growing rage, colonial arrogance and relentless violence on both sides.

Something of Value (1957) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the twilight of British rule, Kenya sways between the quiet rhythms of its high‑land farms and the restless undercurrents of a growing nationalist movement. The land is lush and contested, the air thick with the promise of change and the weight of a centuries‑old colonial order. Against this backdrop, a society of settlers and indigenous peoples navigates an uneasy coexistence that is as beautiful as it is fragile.

Kimani, a Kikuyu farmhand whose childhood has been intertwined with the white family that employs him, carries the pride of his people while shouldering the expectations of a colonial household. Peter, the son of a British settler, has been raised with the privileges and responsibilities of the empire, yet he feels the pull of the very land that sustains his family. Their friendship, forged in shared chores and youthful camaraderie, now finds itself stretched across a widening divide, each man yearning for a peace that seems ever more elusive.

The McKenzie family, emblematic of the colonial presence, tries to uphold a semblance of harmony, while the surrounding villages hold fast to ancestral customs that prohibit violence yet whisper of a deeper, unmet yearning for freedom. Both Kimani and Peter are caught between loyalty to the people they love and the larger forces that demand their allegiance. Their personal convictions clash with the rising tide of unrest, hinting at choices that could either bridge the gap between them or drive them further apart.

The film unfolds with a brooding, lyrical tone, painting the stark beauty of the Kenyan landscape alongside the simmering tensions that threaten to erupt. It is a study of two men bound by history and friendship, each confronting the moral ambiguities of a world on the brink of transformation, and each hoping—against the odds—that a path to reconciliation might still be found amidst the turmoil.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:25

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about friendships torn apart by war like Something of Value

Stories where deep bonds shatter when individuals are forced onto opposing sides of a war.If you liked the tragic conflict between friends in Something of Value, explore more movies where personal bonds are shattered by war and ideological divides. These films feature similar heavy emotional weight, moral complexity, and bittersweet endings.

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Narrative Summary

This narrative pattern follows close friends or allies who find their relationship tested and ultimately broken by a larger societal conflict. The story often uses their friendship as a microcosm of the wider struggle, highlighting the human cost of war through their personal tragedy.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share a core focus on the dissolution of a profound friendship under the pressure of war, politics, or social upheaval. They balance heavy emotional weight with complex moral dilemmas, resulting in a somber and thought-provoking experience.

Gritty colonial conflict dramas similar to Something of Value

Unflinching historical dramas that examine the brutal realities and moral gray areas of colonialism.For viewers seeking more movies like Something of Value, this list features intense historical dramas about colonial uprisings. These films share a dark tone, high intensity, and a complex, unsentimental look at racial injustice and the brutality of war.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread are typically set during anti-colonial rebellions or wars of independence. They follow characters from both the colonizing and indigenous populations, often blurring moral lines to show the human cost and cyclical violence inherent in such conflicts.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their grim, realistic depiction of colonial systems and the violent rebellions they spawn. They share a high-intensity, oppressive mood, a focus on systemic injustice, and a willingness to portray brutality and moral ambiguity without offering easy answers.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Something of Value

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