FIRST OFF . . .

A South African anti-apartheid group has withdrawn its threat to boycott “Cry Freedom,” Sir Richard Attenborough’s new film about Black Consciousness movement leader Steven Biko. The Azanian People’s Organization (AZAPO) said that after discussions with the British film maker, it was satisfied that the film doesn’t distort the goals of the movement or Biko, who died in police custody in 1977. An AZAPO spokesman said that Attenborough had made great efforts to authenticate material for the film. AZAPO threatened in January to drive the film off world cinema screens if it distorted Biko’s life. The group later said it would boycott the film, scheduled for release in November.