Movie of the Month, Part 11: Endgame

 I recently reviewed the following film for Video Librarian, and thought the results were worth sharing. 

ENDGAME [***1/2] 

(Pete Travis, UK, 2008, 109 minutes) 

An all-star cast populates this historical thriller about oppositional figures who find common ground for the betterment of their country. While Clint Eastwood's upcoming bio-pic, Invictus, focuses on Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman), Vantage Point director Pete Travis spotlights South Africa's lesser known political players.

  Taking cues from Robert Harvey's book, The Fall of Apartheid, Paula Milne’s script begins in 1985 when mild-mannered Briton Michael Young (Eli Stone's Jonny Lee Miller), public affairs director for Consolidated Goldfields, meets charismatic African National Congress delegate Thabo Mbeki (Redbelt’s Chiwetel Ejiofor), and concludes with the release of imprisoned ANC leader Mandela (The Wire’s Clarke Peters), paving the way for the democracy to come. 

In looking out for his company's best interests, Young seeks to help dismantle the nation's racist infrastructure, seeing it as a mutually beneficial outcome (Derek Jacobi plays his supervisor). In the process, he recruits Afrikaaner philosophy professor Will Esterhuyse (Oscar winner William Hurt) to lead the talks between the two sides. 

From the start, however, Mbeki makes it clear that he envisions a return to majority rule rather than a power- share. Though sympathetic, Esterhuyse fears that this will lead to widespread retaliation

for decades of discrimination. As they come to trust each oth-

er, a way forward emerges, despite the attempts by President

P.W. Botha (Timothy West) and National Intelligence Service

agent Dr. Niel Barnard (Mark Strong) to discredit Mbeki.  

Originally broadcast on Britain’s Channel 4 in May (to surprising- ly low ratings), Endgame airs in the US as part of PBS’s Master- piece Contemporary series (and in a limited theatrical release). Travis and Milne do a fine job in recounting an important story, but Ejiofor and Hurt give it heart. Highly recommended. 

Click here for Movie of the Month, Part 10: An Audience of One  PBS PREVIEWS / Masterpiece Contemporary: Endgame 

Endnote: Not to be confused with Samuel Beckett's Endgame, this one airs on PBS stations, including KCTS 9, on Oct 25 and in theaters Oct 30 (check local listings). Slightly revised from the original text. Images from Ace Showbiz (© Monterey Media. All Rights Reserved).