Apartheid is one of those nasty pieces of human history which really shouldn’t have existed yet the tenacity and resilience of the people who opposed it restores you faith in humanity. Endgame, made in conjunction with Channel 4 Films, takes a view at both sides of the debate and although it was originally slated to be part of the broadcaster’s Apartheid Season in 2008 it was finally shown on TV at the start of May.
The Secret Talks to End Apartheid in South Africa
Set in the late 1980s, Endgame is a political thriller about the secret meetings between the African National Congress and the National Party in the final days of Apartheid and how they helped bring about political change in the country. The talks, held in England between Professor Will Esterhuyse (William Hurt) and ANC activist and future president Thabo Mbeki (Chiwetel Ejiofor), were arranged by British businessman Michael Young (Jonny Lee Miller), who works for a mining company that wants stability in South Africa.
At the same time a government executive Dr Neil Barnard (Mark Strong) has started negotiations with an imprisoned Nelson Mandela (The Wire's Clarke Peters). President P.W. Botha (an underused Timothy West) is aware of the secret talks and intends to use his influence to control the outcome of both and play them in his favour.
Strong Performances by the Two Leads Hurt and Ejiofor
What is obvious from the outset where Young is smuggled in to restricted areas of the country as protestors are beaten by police is that helmer Pete Travis has definitely been studying the Paul Greengrass book of directing. The quasi-documentary style and use of shaky, hand-held cameras does give Endgame a certain artistic merit and lifts it above its TV-movie roots.
The film works hard to capture the relationship that develops between the central characters, which is down to the strong performances by the two leads Hurt and Ejiofor and Paula Milne's impressive script. Also Mark Strong’s menacing turn as a conspiring official, similar to his role in Body of Lies, proves once again why he is the British actor to watch out for at the moment.
Despite the fine display of acting it does drag at times during the middle where it seems like not very much is happening at all and there’s not really enough footage of the actual talks, rather the implications and the horrors what took place around them. It's a shame because more scenes of a heated debate would have enhanced the tension further.
Pete Travis Improves on Debut Vantage Point
It isn’t saying much but Travis has improved on his feature length debut Vantage Point in that this time he actually has the convictions to stick to his vision without letting explosions and car chases (both of which are used here) take over the narrative. Although not a perfect film Endgame is a solid thriller that does a reasonable job in delivering a story that people need know about.
- Starring William Hurt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jonny Lee Miller, Mark Strong
- Directed by Pete Travis
- Written by Paula Milne
- Running time: 101 minutes
