Escape From Pretoria premiered on March 4, 2020. Jenkin was born in Cape Town and educated at Rondebosch Boys' Prep and Boys' High School, matriculating aged 17. As clunkily deployed in the script for Escape from Pretoria, however, the line acts as a shortcut to nobility, in a tight genre exercise that has scant time for such elaborate niceties as character development and social context. . But fortunately the metal of the keyhole marked where it was getting jammed, meaning Tim could accurately file it down to size. I wasnt wondering, oh will they make it?. Locked up in a maximum-security jail for setting off harmless leaflet propaganda bombs spreading dissent against the apartheid regime in 1970s South Africa, Stephen and friend Tim Jenkin were about to embark on one of the most audacious prison breaks in history. "[This] was hugely emotional," Stephen described The Daily Mirror how the first breakthrough made him feel. On December 11th, 1979, three white activists, Tim Jenkin, Stephen Lee and Alex Moumbaris, escaped from Pretoria Central Prison. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Eenmaal onder de vleugels van politiek activist Denis Goldberg besluiten ze om, samen. He was accused of having published, in the Press Newsletter (BIP), the article "Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) 2010", summing up the activities and successes of the BDS campaign during 2010. We were working in a carpentry workshop and I thought, I wonder if we can make a key out of wood. In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. Alex Moumbaris was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment on the 20 June 1973, which he started serving in the Pretoria Local Prison. 1978 Something went wrong, please try again later. I made that within a week or two of being there, it wasnt that difficult.. Luckily, the warder blamed one of his colleagues. A massive police operation was launched to recapture the convicts, but by that time Stephen and Tim were on their way out of South Africa, to safety in the UK. He returned to France after his escape. Breakout, exclusive to National Geographic Channel, Fridays, 9pm. You hardly have to measure., He continued: The actual shape, we got by looking at their [guards] keys, as we had the overall height already, it was just a question of guessing how deep the cuts were and our guess was correct and the very first key was correct. It was hugely emotional, Stephen recalls. So when his key worked, it was momentous. On the outside of the first door was another door made of solid metal, but the lock was on the other side and there was no way of reaching it from inside the cell. [9] When an escape committee of three prisoners was set up, Moumbaris (and not Jenkin or Lee) was selected as he was "the most vociferous" and a good negotiator. The wooden key didnt work at first. 12 'To build solidarity - that was my task', "Daniel Radcliffe to Star in Prison-Break Drama 'Escape From Pretoria', "Pretoria Prison break: Amazing story of the daring men who escaped notorious apartheid regime jail", "Adelaide transformed into apartheid-era Cape Town for Escape From Pretoria filming", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tim_Jenkin&oldid=1137067993, This page was last edited on 2 February 2023, at 16:48. After that they made it to Mozambique, Angola, and then on to Europe. Elated, they moved on to door three, which, incredibly, worked with the same key as the inner cell door. As our central trio trace a taut treasure trail of keyholes and cupboards, Annans direction settles into a smooth groove of high-tension setpieces, teased out to breath-suspending effect. A third prisoner, Alex Moumbaris, was brought in to be part of the escape. Locked up in a maximum-security jail for leaflets against apartheid, they embarked on one of the most audacious escapes in history. ', Super Mario Bros. Movie Is Releasing Two Days Early, The True Story Behind 'Cocaine Bear': A 175-Pound Beast, a Dead Drug Smuggler in Gucci Loafers and More, Chris Pine Admits It Did Look Like Harry Styles Spit on Me, but He Did Not: The Vitriol Against Dont Worry Darling Was Ridiculous, Jonathan Majors Pitches a Rom-Com With Issa Rae: 'I Want to Run Through Central Park Trying to Beat Her to the Airport', HBO's Leading Man: Casey Bloys on Perfecting 'The Last of Us,' HBO Max Streaming Merger and Axing Shows, A24 Sweeps Film Categories at the 2023 SAG Awards as 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Breaks Record for Most Wins, Jean Smart 'Doing Well, Recovering' Following Heart Procedure, Says Hacks Co-Star Hannah Einbinder, Ke Huy Quan Becomes First Asian Male Film Winner at SAG Awards for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Alexandre Moumbaris is a political activist and former political prisoner. In prison they met Denis Goldberg and on Alexandre Moumbaris - not on Leonard Fontaine. The key, fortunately, also worked for the door of Stephen's neighbouring cell. Radcliffe is playing a real-life person, Tim Jenkin, in a thrilling story based on a true story. [4] He had not grown up in a political family, but when in Britain associated with Communists there and he was inspired by the communist resistance to the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II. "Incarcerated in Pretoria Maximum Security Prison, Jenkin and Lee - joined by fellow inmate and French national Alex Moumbaris - decide to send the regime a clear message and escape. [22], After their incarceration, Jenkin, Lee and several other inmates began plotting an escape, which would involve copies of several prison keys that Jenkin made from wood. For three years they set off harmless leaflet bombs - explosive devices at the bottom of a shopping bag that could distribute 500 propaganda pamphlets in one 'bang' - spreading word of the liberation movement in public places. They were very big locks so you could see the marks on the inside. why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoriavsters friluftsomrde. However, escaping - something no inmate had successfully done before - was going to be no easy task. The system was never cracked and helped the ANC coordinate in the run up to Nelson Mandela's release from prison. [20], In Paris, Moumbaris organised the opening of the ANC office in 1981[21] and continued to assist the struggle against apartheid in various ways, including recruiting comrades for missions in South Africa for MK. I took the file that I brought, and I had the lock in front of me so I could keep testing it, he explained of the agonisingly slow process. They moved to London in 1961,[1] where Moumbaris worked for the IT department of Reuters-Comtel. : National speaking tour with Tim Jenkin and Karel Boele", "Award for Excellence in the Field of Humanitarian Service", "Daniel Radcliffe touches down in Adelaide for new movie", "Revolutionary Secrets: Technology's Role in the South African Anti-Apartheid Movement", "Sam Neill joins Daniel Radcliffe in 'Escape From Pretoria', "Ch. Home Office Minister Mark Carlisle said no evidence had been found at that time of South African responsibility for illegal activities, but appropriate action would be taken should it appear. Their fellow inmates told them theyd never make it. 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Jordan Meets Reporter at 'Creed III' Premiere Who 'Teased Him all the Time' in High School: 'I Was the Corny Kid, Right? [9] His ongoing task of generating enthusiasm amongst the other inmates for the escape plan was onerous, and the stress affected his health. [18], Jenkin returned to South Africa in 1991 to manage the ANC's communications network. South African Tim Jenkins' (Daniel Radcliffe) sentence of 12 years in Pretoria's maximum-security prison has to be seen as a warning to other white people repulsed by apartheid. Members' spirits were low and this combination of factors made it difficult for the ANC to re-infiltrate the combatants who had been trained abroad. . This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. All Rights Reserved. Lee made an escape attempt and nearly succeeded. The trial in the Cape Town Supreme Court went from 6 to 15 June 1978. "Just in case, we had brought a chisel. Thence to Mozambique, and, via contact with FRELIMO, to Angola, where from the ANC office in Luanda they were able to make phone calls to their families, and were also given the news Lee was on his way to join them at the airport. Speaking from his home in North London, dad-of-two Stephen, now 62, says they had been determined to escape from the moment they arrived at notorious Pretoria Prison. [19], By escaping, Moumbaris had reduced his sentence by five and a half years. The real-life Goldberg was much more supportively involved in the prison-break strategy; if the script does him something of a disservice for the purposes of greater narrative friction, thats not the fastest and loosest it plays with facts. They both found their sociology course disappointing, as the material reinforced the status quo of apartheid. Moumbaris is renamed Leonard Fontaine and played by Mark Leonard Winter.[27][28]. It was dangerous, they did have regular inspections. La historia del activista sudafricano Tim Jenkin inspira Fuga de Pretoria, . The third partner in the escape, Egyptian-born activist Alex Moumbaris, has been fictionalized as enigmatic Frenchman Leonard (Mark Leonard Winter), who has no discernible history or. Tiene 72 aos y ha escrito varios libros. Offers may be subject to change without notice. We started just before the Soweto uprising in 1976 and carried on for three years. Tim Jenkin and his allies were imprisoned at Pretoria Prison in South Africa. Actually were Tim to 12 years and Stephen to 8 years in Pretoria Prison shipped after they Handed out leaflets with a (harmless) explosion. In fact, things have been kept so by the book, so to speak, the actors used the actual tool Jenkin and Lee as well as third prisoner Alex Moumbaris employed in their daring escape. "We were right underneath an armed guard but he didnt see us. Tim did eventually carve a key to fit, but when he tried it the bolt jammed and he had to return to his cell. Director Francis Annan and his co-writer L.H . 40 years after his mad dash for freedom with his collection of wooden keys and one chisel which was, unbelievably, successful Jenkins story is being told in the feature film, with Daniel Radcliffe playing the lead role. [2] Goldberg and the others decided to withdraw from the escape, with Goldberg continuing to be involved in the preparations.