In Red Tails, World War II rages, and all the African American pilots of the experimental Tuskegee training programme have to fight racial discrimination within the military. Ace airman Capt Martin "Easy" Julian (Nate Parker) and his pilots back at the base are left with little to do but perfect their flying skills, while their white counterparts are shipped out after just three months of training.

Considered inferior, the Tuskegee airmen are assigned second-rate planes and missions while the war takes a harsh toll on the Allied forces. Just as the programme is about to be shut down and the men shipped back home, the Pentagon top dogs realise they have little choice but to rethink their stance. Major Emanuel Stance (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) and Col AJ Bullard (Terrence Howard) step in to give the young fighter pilots a chance to prove their mettle.

It is 1944 and the air war over Europe is entering a deadly phase, with increasing losses of bombers. As a result, the 332nd Fighter Group (the Tuskegee Airmen), are finally sent into combat in Italy. The tight-knit group of Capt Julian together with first Lt Joe "Lightning" Little (David Oyelowo), second Lt Ray "Ray Gun" or "Junior" Gannon (Tristan Wilds), second Lt Andrew "Smokey" Salem (Ne-Yo), and second Lt Samuel "Joker" George (Elijah Kelley), under the guidance of Major Stance and Col Bullard, face a white military bureaucracy still resistant to accepting black flyers as equals.

Their task is to provide a safe escort to bombers in broad daylight—a mission so dangerous that the RAF had refused it. Against all odds, the young airmen take to the skies on the heroic mission to combat not only the enemy, but the discrimination that kept them grounded for much of the war.

Watching a movie at a Ster-Kinekor cinema is now a whole new viewing experience, with the digital conversion that is currently being rolled out to all the sites. With these latest technological advancements, the heightened picture quality and the state-of-the-art surround sound ensure that one is immersed in the action on the big screen.

Watch Red Tails at the nearest Ster-Kinekor cinema when the film releases on Friday, 27 September. Tickets can be booked at www.sterkinekor.com. Alternatively phone Ticketline on 082 16789. For news and updates follow @SKTheatres on Twitter or visit Ster-Kinekor Theatres on Facebook.