It was a wonderful feeling.. Alexandre Moumbaris is a political activist and former political prisoner.He was born in Egypt to Greek parents, grew up in Australia, lived and worked in the UK, was imprisoned in South Africa and now lives in France.He is known for his political activism against the apartheid rgime in South Africa in the 1970s, and his subsequent incarceration in, and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local . When he finally unlocked his cell door after two whole months of filing, he was overjoyed, Boom this thing just slid open, absolutely smoothly. It was a victory over the system., Escape From Pretoria is released in UK cinemas on Friday, March 6, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. "We had to make the key under the noses of the guardsmen. After that they made it to Mozambique, Angola, and then on to Europe. He's best known as the anti-apartheid activist who. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Daniel Radcliffe stars as inmate Tim Jenkin in new film 'Escape To Pretoria' about the famous South African prison break in 1979, The film is set during the during the Apartheid era in Capetown, South Africa, The Pretoria Central Prison divided up prisoners depending on their race, Its gallows, which are left untouched today, could end the lives of seven at once, Sitting on his bed in his jail cell, Tim realised he could fashion a key to unlock the door, Tim was sentenced to 12 years behind bars for supporting Nelson Mandela's ANC, His friend Stephen Lee received eight years for his political "terrorism" fighting apartheid, Once Tim had cracked the third door, inmate Alexis Moumbaris, pictured, joined the escape effort, After leaving South Africa via Tanzania, the pair - now in their 70s - settled in the UK, New Amazon Prime documentary explores the case of Oscar Pistorius who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, Inside audacious Escape From Pretoria where prisoners fled hellhole jail by carving wooden keys for ELEVEN metal doors, Kate and Rio Ferdinand had 'heated' rows over her pregnancy that ended in tears as she thought he 'didn't care', Ed Sheeran reveals wife Cherry 'had a tumour' that could only be treated after birth of 2nd baby as he announces album, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Starring Daniel Radcliffe as a jailed anti-apartheid activist, this true-life prison-break thriller is stronger on genre mechanics than political nuance. The worst time was being put in solitary confinement., Describing the prison, he says: There were numerous gates, many metal grill doors. [39], Harry Potter of Jailbreaking: Tim Jenkin on Freedom, first fully democratic elections in South Africa, "Talking to Vula: The Story of the Secret Underground Communications Network of Operation Vula", "Press Conference by O. R. Tambo, Introducing Alexandre Moumbaris, Stephen Lee and Timothy Jenkin who Escaped from Prison in South Africa", "Should communities be able to design their own currencies? Alex Moumbaris (section Escape) and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local Prison (within the Pretoria Central Prison complex) with Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee. 2020 PG-13 1h 46m DVD . lindbacken fastigheter We worked quite closely and he wanted to know what to emphasise, he was very keen to portray the mood and, well, me, I guess, as accurately as he could.. [25][26] Filming of Escape from Pretoria began in Adelaide, South Australia, in March 2019, with Daniel Webber joining the cast as Lee. [14], Moumbaris was allowed to see the French envoy from time to time, who would assure him he was doing everything within his power to secure his release and persuade the authorities to let Marie-Jos visit him. [14] He afterwards said the prison was "luxury" compared to French prison. Escape from Pretoria sees Daniel Radcliffe in a very different role from his work in the Harry Potter franchise. Nick Fentons editing, meanwhile, maintains a keen sense of physical space and strain, not least in one comically queasy scene where a dropped key must be retrieved with the aid of a broomstick and chewing gum. [3], On 23 October 1973, the matter of possible theft of documents from the Clapham Common home of Moumbaris and his wife was raised in the UK parliament by Labour party MP Alex Lyon. How? For other inquiries, Contact Us. In prison they met Denis Goldberg and on Alexandre Moumbaris - not on Leonard Fontaine. [28], In 1987 his book, Escape from Pretoria, was published in London. Lying on his bunk one night, he gazed at the lock in front of him and had a flash of inspiration. In June 1978, Stephen Lee and Tim Jenkin were sentenced to eight to 12 years in prison for producing political pamphlets during the Apartheid. [2] He worked for about nine years before becoming involved with the ANC [3] as one of the "London Recruits". Goldberg distracted the warden while the three made their escape. Adapted from Jenkins memoir of his time served and resourcefully cut short as a South African political prisoner in the countrys darkest days of white supremacy, Francis Annans film works effectively as a straight-up jailbreak thriller, well-oiled in greasy B-movie tradition. [4], After leaving school, he avoided conscription into the South African Defence Force, and worked at a variety of jobs for two years, with no particular interest in anything except motorcycle racing. [19], By escaping, Moumbaris had reduced his sentence by five and a half years. [8] He and Lee went on a speaking tour in Sweden in the early 1980s. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. [13], Marie-Jos was repeatedly denied a visitor's visa to visit him in prison, and in February 1978 Moumbaris went on a hunger strike to try to force the authorities to let her in, but after 10 days realised the futility of this and gave up. While their revolutionary deeds helped to change the course of history, their prison escape was that which garnered them real fame. In 2015 he went on a national tour in Australia organised by Karel Boele speaking about his escape and community currencies. I started to carve a few little pieces of wood, one for the shaft and one for the bit of the key, Tim told National Geographic. Unwilling to take any more risks, they had to leave this final barrier untested until the night of the actual escape. The initial plan was that eight of the political prisoners would escape, leaving behind two who were nearing the end of their sentences. What 15 KB (566 words) - 03:39, 25 February 2021 Grant Piro Broadcasting Corporation. The moment we heard the knocking on the door, we knew that was it, Tim told The Times. Lee worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, while Jenkin ran the "cell" on his own in Cape Town. [1], Moumbaris was the only non-South African prisoner, and when Jenkin met him, he appeared as "a little aloof". The French Communist Party published a press release in his support on 20 May 2011. People / Alex Moumbaris. The pair, who are both now in their 70s, settled in north London, with Tim eventually relocating to Johannesburg years later. Watch on. This was going to let us out of the cells into the corridor.. He signalled his wish to be included in any possible escape plan to Jenkin even before the idea was presented to him, after Jenkin had mentioned he and Lee had brought some money into prison. El primer adelanto de este dramtico filme nos da un vistazo a la difcil situacin por la que pas para intentar sobrevivir. Dirigida por Francis Annan y con Daniel Radcliffe en el papel principal, est basada en el libro que el mismo Jenkin escribi relatando la horrible experiencia vivida poco antes de los 80, cuando fue apresado. He is known for his political activism against the apartheid rgime in South Africa in the 1970s, and his subsequent incarceration in, and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local . : 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. They were sent to Pretoria Central Prison - since renamed Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area - where prisoners were divided up depending on their race. If youve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with theMetro.co.ukentertainment team by emailing uscelebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page wed love to hear from you. Stephen deliberately engineered a trip to the dentist that allowed him to pick up vital information for their potential route out. We had to make these parts under the noses of the guards. Moubaris went to the USSR for training. Its when it shoots for more historical import that it falls somewhat short. At the time it was the site of the countrys capital punishment regime (which was abolished in 1995), and housed its death row. I felt so elated.". The third prisoner in this true story was in fact Alexandre Moumbaris, Egyptian born of Greek heritage who grew up in Australia and was raised in the UK. His wife was detained during the same period of his detention, but was later released without charge. 2020 PG-13 1h 46m DVD Rent this movie Play trailer. Meanwhile, it may struggle to find much of a fanbase in its own country of setting, where audiences might reasonably wonder why at least one South African actor couldnt have been cast in a principal role. Breakout, exclusive to National Geographic Channel, Fridays, 9pm. In December 1979, Jenkin, Lee and fellow inmate Alex Moumbaris broke out of Pretoria Central Prison using handmade keys to nine of the doors leading out of the prison, after several hair-raising moments after encountering unforeseen obstacles. But we got away with it.. With Daniel Radcliffe, Daniel Webber, Ian Hart, Mark Leonard Winter. . Tim and Stephen were hauled off to a special "European" section called "The Local" for white inmates which housed up to 22. Again Tims ingenuity was tested. [17] Lee, having many friends in Johannesburg, thought it best to contact them in the first instance, so the group split at that point, making plans to meet in London. It took until the next day for guards to realise they were missing, and a huge police operation to recapture them was launched. There was only one guard on duty and he was chatting to Denis. But near doors five and six was the night warders office. Tim, the technical expert of the pair, had devised a way of scattering banned leaflets by using explosive linked to a timer and detonator inside a carrier bag. [19], In 2014 a documentary film called The Vula Connection, about Jenkin and his part in the creation of an ingenious secret communication system that enabled Vula operatives to penetrate South Africa's borders in secret, ultimately smuggling messages to the imprisoned Nelson Mandela, was made by Marion Edmunds. Continue without accepting. . 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. We were working in a carpentry workshop and I thought, I wonder if we can make a key out of wood. There has only been one successful prison break since. They caught us with printing equipment. [37][38] Jenkin spent some time in Adelaide, advising Radcliffe on accent and other aspects of the film, as well as playing as an extra, playing a prisoner next to Radcliffe in the visiting room. Stephen and Tim had to open 11 doors in total, some right next to the guards' office. View our online Press Pack. [33][34], In May 2017, it was announced that production would start on a film of Jenkin's book, produced by David Barron and starring Daniel Radcliffe as Jenkin and Ian Hart as Goldberg. Banished to the vast prison complex of Pretoria, the countrys administrative capital, Jenkin and Lee are protectively counseled by veteran liberal political prisoner Denis Goldberg (British veteran Ian Hart, giving the character a geezer-y air), who advises them to keep their heads down and to serve their time with dignity as prisoners of conscience. The youngsters, countering that they are instead prisoners of war, immediately set about an escape plan regardless. So when his key worked, it was momentous. While the first step toward freedom might have been exhilarating, it was far from their most momentous achievement. The film was released on 6 March 2020, first in the UK and USA and then in the rest of the world. From the very first day, we started to collect intelligence about possible escape routes, says Tim, who now lives in Johannesburg. He adds: I have probably different emotions as people. Sketchy as it is on human details, Escape from Pretoria gets by on such practical nuts and bolts. Alex Moumbaris was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment on the 20 June 1973, which he started serving in the Pretoria Local Prison. Success came after many long nights of painstaking effort and risk. In my early years I had learned to pick the back door lock at home with a piece of wire, he says. "We were right underneath an armed guard but he didnt see us. They were both found guilty on one charge, with Jenkin receiving a 12-year sentence and Lee eight. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. 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. Alexandre Moumbaris is a political activist and former political prisoner. [9] His ongoing task of generating enthusiasm amongst the other inmates for the escape plan was onerous, and the stress affected his health. Here they met Oliver Tambo and Alfred Nzo, President and Secretary-General of the ANC respectively, and gave a press conference on 2 January 1980. Jenkin and Lee, furious about being imprisoned for their thoughts, wanted to escape to prove to the world their differences, and of course, to fight for democracy in their country. It was a little noise that promised a big prize freedom. After months of meticulous surveillance, breath-taking ingenuity, and in a race against time . [31][32] In 2013, the story of the prison escape was dramatised in the 7th episode of the 2nd season of Breakout, a television series made by National Geographic TV channel dramatising real-life prison escapes. We walked out as if we had every right to be there.". "I wanted to run but we just kept walking to the railway station, where we used our money to get in a taxi," Stephen said. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. [14], Undeterred, Jenkin continued the work in Cape Town, finding a new premises and regularly changing their printing equipment, and both carried out further leaflet bombings in Johannesburg. To make this possible, they befriended another inmate, Alex Moumbaris. [2] He started associating with African National Congress (ANC) exiles and beginning in 1967, he travelled in and out of South Africa transporting literature for the movement. The prison, constructed from stone and steel, had gone down in prisoner folklore as being a fortress from which no one could ever hope to escape. [35][36] Filming of Escape from Pretoria began in Adelaide, South Australia, in March and April 2019, with Daniel Webber joining the cast as Lee. On 30 December they were flown to Zambia, where they were accommodated under armed guard in Lusaka and their presence was officially announced by the ANC in early January 1980. Submitted by Mary Christine Part 1: Intro Part 2: The wasteland Part 3: Societal collapse Part 4: Final outcome Part 5: Doing good 2. Years later, while based in Camden, North London, he would set up a rudimentary computer that enabled coded messages to be sent from the ANC to their agents and even to Mandela in prison. We would spot the night warden and your heart is just pumping," said Tim. MORE : Daniel Radcliffe is a much better actor than the world is giving him credit for, MORE : Daniel Radcliffe says he wouldnt want to return to Harry Potter, Harry and Meghan break silence after Charles evicts them from Frogmore Cottage, FA Cup quarter-final draw: Manchester United play Fulham; Man City face Burnley, Roy Keane slams West Ham midfielder Declan Rice after 80m Arsenal transfer link, Girl killed in Florida shooting ran to mom for help yelling he shot me, Emmerdale spoilers: Triple exit as Amy and Matty leave the village with Kyle, Daniel Radcliffe is a much better actor than the world is giving him credit for, Daniel Radcliffe says he wouldnt want to return to Harry Potter, Do not sell or share my personal information. [2] Goldberg and the others decided to withdraw from the escape, with Goldberg continuing to be involved in the preparations. [11] In March 1976 Lee went to Johannesburg to look for work, and the ANC coincidentally sent them both on their first mission, to disperse leaflets urging support for the ANC via a leaflet bomb (using a new design developed by Jenkin) in Johannesburg, close to the anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre on 21 March. Nathan Page. Stephen and Tim, 64, whose story is told tonight in Breakout on the National Geographic Channel, were supporters of Nelson Mandelas ANC who had been put under surveillance by South Africas secret police for their clandestine activity. He had been waiting for this sound for several hours every night for two months. At night there were dogs in the yard.. Eventually, the day comes when Jenkin, Lee, and Fontaine try their escape, and by some miracle, it works. Director Francis Annan and his co-writer L.H . Based on the real-life prison break of two political captives, Escape From Pretoria is a race-against-time thriller set in the tumultuous apartheid days of South Africa. I felt so elated. This was legal under Section 6 of the Terrorism Act, which allowed detention without trial for up to 60 days, and was extendable. In order to successfully escape from the prison in December 1979, Jenkin unlocked nine doors while Goldberg diverted the warden. As such, they were brought to the attention of South Africa's secret police. We walked out as if we had every right to be there. The arrests at Liliesleaf and convictions which followed at the Rivonia Trial in 1963-4 were followed by widespread roundups of activists and leaders, including Bram Fischer and Wilton Mkwayi. They would contain simple messages, urging people to support the liberation movement. 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