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Bronx Princess POV Community Engagement & Education Discussion GuiDe Mugabe and the White African A Film by Directors Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson and Producers Elizabeth Morgan Hemlock and David Pearson www.pbs.org/pov PoV Letter froM the fiLMMAkers We have worked together for 10 years — and much of that time has been spent filming in Africa, for which we have a huge passion. We’ve recently been working on short films in Africa; we have been privileged to tell the sto - ries of people who are so poor that they would never have “mattered” otherwise. We have been in many life-or-death situations with the people we’ve filmed and have cried and laughed with them as we shared some of the most intimate moments of their lives. Be - cause of that, for some time we have been de - veloping and working on ideas for longer-format documentaries set in Africa. The story of Mugabe and the White African is a story that we feel the world should hear. Much has been reported about the eradication of white-owned farms in Zimbabwe and the Directors Lucy Bailey (l.) and Andrew Thompson (r.) deterioration and subsequent collapse of the Photo courtesy of Arturi Films Limited country. We have all seen news images of beaten farmers and seen the desperation in people’s eyes as they live in hunger, hopelessness and fear. We wanted to make a film about a big issue like the land reform program policy in Zimbabwe, but in a very intimate and personal way. our subject was Mike campbell, the Zimbabwean commercial farmer who made legal history when he took President Robert Mugabe to the international court of the south - ern African Development community (sADc) in 2007 and won his case a year later. We believe the audience for our film is sophisticated and can read images and characters. Therefore, there is no commen - tary, and we allow our “characters” to speak for themselves so as to build up a compelling narrative. The film hinges on emo - tional moments in image and sound, so its impact on the memory will last long after the facts have been forgotten. This has been our trademark, particularly in our work for comic Relief. The camera dwells on details — we like shots that are lavish and lingering and show a trust in the relationship with our subjects. This story is epic and at the same time intimate, and the shooting style reflects this. We let the unfolding action dictate the pace, but the feel is cinematic and in the moment. We have done everything we can to tell this extraordinary story, one that would no doubt otherwise forever have remained a “newspaper snippet.” We want this film to take the viewer to the heart of a historical moment, one that could be pivotal to Africa’s future. The film responds to what unfolds, but at the end of the day we want viewers to be able to make up their own minds. We completed our film in the spring of 2009. Mike campbell passed away at his temporary home in Harare on April 6, 2011. He never recovered from the injuries he suffered while being kidnapped and tortured by a gang trying to throw him off his farm on June 29, 2008, just two days after the presidential run-off election. Mike was an amazing and brave man. We will miss him. Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson , Directors DISCUSSION GUIDE Mugabe and the White African |2 PoV Letter froM the fiLMMAkers Producers’ stAteMent our company, Arturi Films, has a slate of fea - ture films in development. The films’ common strengths are that that they enable the audi - ence to go on an emotional journey with the characters in the story. The story of Mike campbell and this fight for justice and the re - turn of law in Zimbabwe immediately struck a chord with us; immediately we felt that it would resonate with a wider audience, espe - cially because Mike was fighting for human rights and against racism. The fact that he was taking this action because his own president was the perpetrator of human rights abuses and the story was based in Africa, gave it a rel - evance and urgency that we don’t come across very often. We thought that we could bring something unique to Andy and Lucy’s vision for the film. Producers David Pearson (l.) and elizabeth Morgan Hemlock (r.) Financially and creatively, we were willing to Photo courtesy of Arturi Films Limited take the risk alongside our directors. Mike campbell was an exceptionally coura - geous man with great dignity and humor. His willingness to allow us to tell his story was important as it gave the world a clear sense of what was really happening in Zimbabwe. it was a great honor for us to work with him, his son-in-law Ben Freeth and the family, and the film is a testimony to Mike’s sense of fairness and desire for justice and the rule of law. Audiences the world over have been touched by the strength of his character and his decency, reflected so beautifully in the Zimbabwe national Anthem: Oh lift high the banner, the flag of Zimbabwe The symbol of freedom proclaiming victory; We praise our heroes' sacrifice, And vow to keep our land from foes; And may the Almighty protect and bless our land. Oh God, we beseech Thee to bless our native land; The land of our fathers bestowed upon us all; From Zambezi to Limpopo May leaders be exemplary And may the Almighty protect and bless our land. Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.. David Pearson and Elizabeth Morgan Hemlock , Producers DISCUSSION GUIDE Mugabe and the White African |3 PoV tAbLe of contents credits 5 Introduction Writer 6 Potential Partners Faith Rogow, PhD 6 Key Issues Insighters Educational Consulting 7 Using This Guide background Writers and editors 8 Background Information Kristine Wilton 8 Zimbabwe 10 Mount Carmel Farm Guide Producers, PoV 13 Southern African Development Eliza Licht Director, Community Tribunal Community Engagement & Education, POV 15 Definitions of Racism Jamie Dobie 16 Selected People Featured Coordinator, in Mugabe and the White African Community Engagement & Education, POV 18 General Discussion Questions Design: Rafael Jiménez 19 Discussion Prompts Copy Editor: Natalie Danford 23 Taking Action 24 Resources 26 How to Buy the Film thanks to those who reviewed this guide: Timothy Scarnecchia Associate Professor, Department of History, Kent State University David Moore Professor, Development Studies, University of Johannesburg Sara Cohan Human Rights Education Specialist DISCUSSION GUIDE Mugabe and the White African |4 PoV introduction Mike campbell (l.) , Ben Freeth (r.) and workers in Zimbabwe, de facto dictator Robert Mugabe has un - on their farm in chegutu, Zimbabwe leashed a “land reform” program aimed at driving whites Photo courtesy of Arturi Films Limited from the country through violence and intimidation. Mugabe and the White African , a 90-minute documentary, much of which was filmed clandestinely, tells the alarming story of one family of proud “white Africans” who fight back. The courage Mike campbell and his family display as they defend their farm — in international court and on the ground — is both inspiring and harrowing. As an outreach tool, this record of the campbell family’s experiences raises questions about race, racism, human rights, international law, the strength of faith and family and, ultimately, the complex legacy of european colonization of Africa. DISCUSSION GUIDE Mugabe and the White African |5 PoV PotentiAL PArtners key issues Mugabe and the White African is well suited for use in a Mugabe and the White African is an excellent tool for variety of settings and is especially recommended for use outreach and will be of special interest to people looking with: to explore the following topics: • your local Pbs station Africa • Groups that have discussed previous Pbs and PoV African nationalism films relating to Africa, land rights, human rights Agriculture or international law, including Promised Land, black nationalism The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars british colonialism and Good Fortune. dictatorship • Groups focused on any of the issues listed in the human rights key issues section imperialism • high school students international law • faith-based organizations and institutions Justice • cultural, art and historical organizations, Land ownership institutions and museums Land reform/land use policy • civic, fraternal and community groups Mugabe, robert • Academic departments and student groups at Political power and patronage colleges, universities and high schools race • community organizations with a mission to promote education and learning, such as local racial and class privilege libraries racism reconciliation reparations social justice southern African development community Violence Zimbabwe DISCUSSION GUIDE Mugabe and the White African |6 PoV usinG this Guide This guide is an invitation to dialogue. it is based on a Mike campbell (l.) and Ben Freeth (r.) in the belief in the power of human connection, designed for sADAc court, namibia people who want to use Mugabe and the White African Photo courtesy of Arturi Films Limited to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues and communities. in contrast to initiatives that foster de - bates in which participants try to convince others that they are right, this document envisions conversations undertaken in a spirit of openness in which people try to understand one another and expand their thinking by sharing viewpoints and listening actively. The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issues in the film. Rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests.
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