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Nelson Mandela Steve Biko DOCUMENTARY FOCUS DOCUMENTARY FOCUS and finally, at eleven o'clock at night he is back at his home in Johannesburg.Also included are glimpses ofthe dailyroutines of members of his staff, amongst them his housekeeper, his private secretary and the administrative secretary atthe President's Office. Mandela/ producers,Jonathan Demme,Edward Saxon and Jo Menell; directors,Jo Menelland Angus Gibson. This biography takes the story from his youthintheTranskeitohisincarcerationon Robben Island throughto his release from Compiled by JANINE DE VILLIERS and activists such as Steve Biko,Chris Hani prison and hisinauguration as president Promotions and Publications and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. after the firstdemocratic electionin South decade oftrue democracyis quite Nelson Mandela Africa.It received an Academic Award Nominationin1996 for Best Documentary an achievement on the African AdaywiththePresident/ producer, A continent.In 2004 the Republic of Feature. Harriet Gavshon; director,Nicolaas Other titles South Africa celebrates tenyears under a Hofmeyr. democratic governmentchosenin free and The first accused: an intimate portrait of Made by the team responsible for the Mandela fair elections by the whole nationthat Ordinary people series, this unique pro- Mandela: the man and his country serves as an example to the restofthe gramme spends a working day with Presi- Nelson Mandela and the rise of the ANC world.The roadtotrue democracy was not dentMandela.Startingatfouro'clockinthe Nelson Mandela: the struggle is my life. an easy one.Many South Africans contrib- morning at Qunu in theTranskei, where he uted to the establishment of a new democ- was on holiday with his family,it accompa- Steve Biko racy,unfailingly devoting theirlives to this nies him on his flightto Pretoria and thento cause.Theycame from allwalks of life: law- Steve Biko: journey of the spirit/ his office atthe Union Buildings, where he is yers, clergymen, student activists - sharing producer,PeterTrehaeven; director, seen at a meeting with Minister Jay Naidoo, the vision of a true democratic country in Matsemela Manaka. giving aninterview to journalists of City which all would be equal. Made to commemorate the twentieth Pressand taking a telephone callfrom PW During 2004 librarians might receive anniversary of Steve Biko'sdeath, this pro- Botha, before going on to his official resi- requests formaterial aboutthis topicalissue gramme is not so much a biography as a tri- dence,Mahlamb'andlovu, forlunch with andtherefore a selection of videos fromthe bute to the blackconsciousnessleader's Minister Sidney Mufamadi and the swearing Central Video Collectionis highlighted social, cultural and politicallegacy.Itis in ceremony of Deputy Minister Brigitte here.This selection includes various titles structured aroundinterviews with a Mabandla. featuring the mostfamous South African of number of people who knew him person- Later thatday he flies to CapeTownto alltimes,Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and a ally, as well as with individuals who were accept a cheque on behalf of the Nelson host of other famous political role players influenced by his writings.Amongstthem Mandela Children's Fund in Stellenbosch are poet Don Mattera,Mpumalanga Cape Libr., Mar/Apr 2004 54 DOCUMENTARY FOCUS premier Mathew Posa,Biko's BPC collea- former comrades in arms.Comments from Another title gues Strini Moodley,Ben Khoapa and Saths prominent individuals like Jeremy Cronin, Bishop Desmond Tutu: apartheid in South Cooper,AZAPOs Lybon Mabaso, film- Raymond Mhlaba,Joe Slovo,Govan Mbeki, Africa. maker Glen Ujebe Masokoane, The Thabo Mbeki,Joe Modise,Tokyo Sexwale Sowetaneditor Aggrey Klaaste, artist and Essop Pahad are intercut with archival Other famous South Africans Charles Nkosi and Biko'seldest son, footage, aswellaswith extracts from ear- Albie Sachs/ director,Nicola de Chaud. Nkosinathi.Mostofthemrefer tohis lier recordedinterviews with Hanihimself. In1990, after 22 yearsinexileinEngland emphasis onthe need of black South Another title and Mozambique, lawyer, writer and ANC Africans to develop a sense of self-esteem MartinThembisile Chris Hani1942-1993. activist Albie Sachs returned to South and self-reliance, and pointoutthat his once Africa and, more especially,to hishome city revolutionary ideas are now generally Desmond Tutu of CapeTown.Inthis programme he talks accepted.There are also musicalinserts Man without fear: Desmond Mpilo about various things: the Maputo car bomb from the likes of Bheki Khoza,PhillipTabane Tu t u / producer and director,Hennie of 7 Aprill988 thatclaimed his right arm, his and Mara Louw. Serfontein. time of recoveryin England, his commit- Other titles In June1996,Desmond Tutu retired as mentto the freedom struggle, his yearsin Bantu Steve Biko: beacon of hope Anglican Archbishop of CapeTown, and Mozambique and hislove of CapeTown.He Biko: the spirit lives accepted a newrole as chairperson ofthe also discusses his writing, especially The jail The death of Steve Biko Truth and Reconciliation Commission. diary of Albie Sachs and The softvengeance The life and death of Steve Biko. WhileawinneroftheNobelPeacePrize of a freedom fighter,andexpresseshishope and aninternationallyrecognised figure, he for a democratic South Africa in which Chris Hani remains a humble, deeply spiritualperson everyone willbe able to embrace the cul- The life & times of Chris Hani/ with an intense love for his fellow human tureoftheirchoicewhilebeingopentothat producers, Shareef Cullis and Junaid beings and a wonderful sense of humour. of others. Ahmed; director,Ken Kaplan. This programme presents a portraitof Chris Hani @l942-1993) had been elected Desmond Tutu, charting the highlights of Beyers Naude¨ :pilgrimageofan General Secretary ofthe South African his ecclesiastical career, while atthe same Afrikaner prophet/ director,Hennie Communist Party when, in April1993, he time discussing his confrontations with the Serfontein. was assassinated.Thisprogramme presents apartheid state.Structured around A biography of the Reverend Beyers a portrait of the man and pays tribute to his extracts from a lengthyinterview - during Naude¨ , tracing hislife and ministry from an memory.It starts with his childhoodinthe which he talks about his family background, unquestioning acceptance ofthe political rural Transkei and his student years at his entryinto the priesthood, the meaning heritage of having been born an Afrikaner, Lovedale College and Fort Hare University, ofprayerinhislife, etcetera -itincorporates through his growing conviction that the before following his political career through filmfootageshotoveranumberofyears government'sapartheid was morally the ranks of the SACP and the ANC - andin various countries.In additionthere wrong, to his final commitment to the including his activities as a combatant - are comments from his wife Leah, his freedom struggle.Based verylargely on an leading up to his appointment as Chief of daughter Naomi,Dr Nthato Motlana,Peter extensive interview with him and his wife, Staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe.Members of Magubane,Reverend Frank Chikane and a Ilse, and supplemented with extracts from his family,including his father and his wife, number of close friends and associates. earlierinterviewsshotatvariousstagesof recallhim as a person, as do several of his hislife, ittouches upon a great manyissues. % Kaapse Bibl., Mar/Apr 2004 55 DOCUMENTARY FOCUS It starts with his family background, the underground work for the SACP, his life in returnto South Africa after 28 yearsin influence of his father on his thinking, his prison and, finally,his death of cancer. exile.Thisis followed by the story of his yearsasatheologystudentattheUniver- involvement in the CODESAtalks, his sityof Stellenbosch and his membership of Heart and stone/ producer and appointment as firstdeputypresident and the Afrikaner Broederbond.After thatit director,Bridget Thompson. his electionto the presidency ofthe ANC. traces his increasingly strained relationship Borninto aTranskeipeasantfamilyin1910, The programme makes use of limited re- with the Dutch Reformed Church following Govan Mbekihas been a stalwartofthe enactments, archival footage and inter- the Cottesloe Conference and his appoint- African National Congress for many years views with a number of people who know ment as director of the Christian Institute. and, inl956, was elected the organisation's him, including his parents,Simon Makana, Finally Dr Naude¨ talks aboutthe years of National Chairman.This film presents an Barney Pityana,Ronnie Kasrils,Essop Pahad officialharassment, of being ostracised by overview of his life, starting with his remi- and AdelaideTambo, as wellas political most of his fellow Afrikaners and his deci- niscences of anidyllic rural childhood, the scientist Tom Lodge and journalist Mark sion to join the ANC.Additional comments struggle for higher education and an awa- Gevisser.It also incorporates extracts from come from Prof Charles Villa-Vicencio, Prof keningpoliticalconsciousness.He confesses some of Mbeki'spublic speeches, amongst Willie Esterhuyzen,Carl Niehaus, Sidney to having enjoyed doing underground work themthe famous IamanAfricanaddress to Mufamadi and President Nelson Mandela. for the ANC and also talks about his family, parliament, as well as an interview con- his earlycareer as a teacher and his experi- ducted specifically for this programme. Bram Fischer/ producers,Jill ences running a cooperative store, a project Engelbrecht and Maryanne deVilliers. in which his wife is still involved.His conver- Other titles Made to coincide
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