ENDGAME
UK, 2009, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jonny Lee Miller, Chiwetel Ejiofor, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Timothy West, Derek Jacobi.
Directed by Pete Travis.
A film about apartheid but this time a story behind the scenes.
Veteran writer, Paula Milne, has taken the story of Michael Young, an executive with a British company trading in gold in South Africa, who visited the country, heard stories of the exploitation of black Africans and the increasing violence of the police during the 1980s and decided to pursue talks for improving the situation in the country. He was commissioned to do this because of trade and profit reasons but, during a process which went on for several years, he became more and more personally involved and the issue became a cause.
After listening to a talk in London by Thabo Mbeki (who was to become Nelson Mandela's successor as president) and an appeal for money to talk – but this time for social justice – he make enquiries in South Africa and contacted an Afrikaner philosophy lecturer, Dr Willie Esterhuyse who agreed to participate in the talks. They were to be held at a secret location in Somerset. However, South African intelligence chief, Neil Barnard, became aware of the plans and urged the professor to act as an informer to P.W.Botha's government about the contents of the talks and the stances of the ANC.
The film takes its audience into the talks, to listen to the viewpoints of the ANC, the fears of the white South Africans if the blacks were to have power, the financial problems, the issue of terror (and the film shows an incident of a bomb exploding in a busy street) and the release of Nelson Mandela who had spent almost 30 years in prison.
While all the depths of discussions, prejudices and fears cannot be dealt with in a narrative film of 90 minutes, Endgame does a good job of communicating the key elements. Director Pete Travis has made some interesting docudramas and feature films that tackle controversial political issues and bring them to the screen in a vivid way that demands audience attention (Omagh, Vantage Point).
The cast is very strong. Chiwitel Ejiofor is Thabo Umbeki, William Hurt is the professor, Jonny Lee Miller is Michael Young, Derek Jacobi the company head, Mark Strong is the sinister head of intelligence who has to re-think policy quite pragmatically and Timothy West is a blustery Botha. Clarke Peters is Mandela, seen in prison on Robben Island, invited to discussions with government representatives and then in his final more comfortable prison home culminating in his release.
Now that the apartheid era is passing into history, films about South Africa serve as a reminder of that past. And this one reminds us of the power of talk, negotiation and possibilities for compromise for progress which is long and painstaking but can lead to change – as it did in South Africa, and even went further in truth and reconciliation.
1.The history of apartheid, the coming of freedom, now part of history? Films looking back on the era? Assessment and understanding?
2.The collapse of the apartheid system in the 1980s, the violence of the government, suppressing the blacks, the blacks and the possibilities of insurrection? Arrests and torture? The government, hanging on to power? The issues of trade and other nations’ support, especially the United Kingdom? Talks behind the scenes – and the accomplishment of peace by means of these talks? The repercussions of these talks?
3.The United Kingdom and South African settings? Official London, the house in Somerset, the grounds? The interiors for the talks? The South African countryside, Capetown, Johannesburg, other cities? Robin Island? The prison house? The ordinary streets – and the bomb exploding? The atmospheric score?
4.The introduction to Michael Young, driving in South Africa, the woman hiding him in the boot of the car, taking him into the township, getting him out, the talks, the young boy explaining the situation about his family’s deaths, the men attacking Young and his being rescued? His reporting to the head of the company? His role in the company? Seeing the signs of the times? The political and the social blended with the humanitarian?
5.The introduction to Thabo Mbeki? The talk in London, the plea for the British to consider their trade ties? Money talks – and money talking for change in perspective and government? Michael Young and his talking with Mbeki? Mbeki’s reaction? The character of Mbeki, his personality, the cigar, talking, his role for the ANC? In the light of his becoming president after Mandela?
6.The ANC and Oliver Tambo, in exile in Zambia, the policies of the ANC, the South African government’s attitude, seeing them as terrorists? Mbeki’s plea to the British that he was not a terrorist? The use of violence – and the stated policy of only using violence against military? Mandela in prison, almost thirty years? Mbeki and his role in international discussions?
7.Mandela, Robin Island, the many years, growing to be an old man? Work on the island? Interaction with the guards? The arrival of Doctor Niel Barnard? The reasons for his going to Robin Island? Political? Reporting to P.W. Botha? Botha as a bully? Botha spying through the cameras on Mandela? Resisting change, hanging on to power? His stroke? The treatment of Mandela, the invitation to discussions, the ANC wary? Barnard’s plan? Getting Mandela a suit to think he was actually in high discussions? Mandela’s shrewdness in knowing the truth? Barnard’s change, the moving of Mandela to a house, the comfortable house, the guard? The free celebration? The television presentation of his being freed? Sending the notes to Oliver Tambo and receiving them? Clarifying his role with the ANC?
8.Michael Young and his contacts, going to South Africa, going to the university, the lecturer? Listening to his presentations? The professor and his lecture on philosophy? His views on apartheid, talking with Michael Young, his family background? Barnard and his visit, wanting the professor to spy, to report to him? The effect on the professor, his decision to tell Mbeki, their walk in the grounds, not trusting the phone lines or the microphones in the house? The other members of the discussions, the Afrikaner sensibilities, the professor and his putting these forward? The phone message and the threats, his getting a gun?
9.Michael Young chairing the meetings, the range of opinions, the bonding between the members? The Afrikaner perspective? The stance of the government? The ANC and their perspective, agenda, demands?
10.Barnard and his character, the political background, with Botha, advising him, seeing the time for change, world opinion? The election of de Klerk? Not being able to see him? His finally ringing the professor to watch the television for de Klerk’s statement and the release of Mandela?
11.Oliver Tambo, his role in the ANC, in exile, his concern about Barnard’s tactics, discussions with Mbeki? The messages to Mandela?
12.In London, the company and its interest in gold, Michael Young suggesting de Klerk’s dissident brother as a member of the group? Somerset, the staff, the arrangement of the rooms, enabling discussions, walks? The professor and his discussions with Mbeki and their development?
13.The change of attitude? The fear of de Klerk, his brother not seeming helpful? The conservative stances, making his own decisions, not consulting with Barnard? De Klerk’s brother on the phone – his return to the meeting, the surprise of de Klerk’s conditions, ANC making concessions? The possibility for discussion?
14.De Klerk’s statement, 11 February 1990, the freeing of Mandela, discussions? The ANC and the Communist Party not banned?
15.The group, the amazement, their finishing the discussions, the congratulations? Michael Young and his achievement, the invisible man?
16.The information at the end of the film, the four years of negotiations, the 1994 elections, the professor as an adviser to Mbeki? Michael Young and his subsequent career?
17.The importance of a film like this, a glimpse of history, taking audiences behind the scenes, revealing that discussions can go on even if they are not reported? The extra information about the IRA consulting the ANC for the peace agreement? Hamas and the consultations with the ANC? A film of history, a film of hope?
