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Synopsis
Does power erode dreams?
Behind the Rainbow explores the transition of the ANC from a liberation organization into South Africa's ruling party, through the evolution of the relationship between two of its most prominent cadres, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. Exiled under Apartheid they were brothers in arms, under Mandela they loyally laboured to build a non-racial state, now they are bitter rivals. Their duel threatens to tear apart the ANC and the country, as the poor desperately seek hope in change and the elite fight for the spoils of victory.
Behind the Rainbow features key interviews with ANC current and former leaders including Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe, Jacob Zuma, Pallo Jordan and Terror Lekota.
READ MORE ABOUT THE SUBJECTS
The ANC is the final liberation movement on the African continent to undergo the delicate transformation from an exiled revolutionary movement to a ruling party governing state institutions. What does this process entail? How does the ANC keep the delicate balance between the egalitarian dreams it fought for and the reality of constructing a modern state? What or whom is sacrificed in the process?
The transformation of South Africa is one instantiation of a wider reality that has taken place on the continent and throughout the 'developing world'. Because of the scarcity of success in Africa, understanding the process while it is still underway offers a powerful and much-needed model for the future. The success or failure of South Africa is key to the dynamics of transformation throughout the continent.
The new South Africa has emerged, over the past 10 years, as the main dynamo for political and economic change in the region. President Thabo Mbeki's vision for Africa and engagement with its problems has helped neighbouring countries believe that the continent can shape its own destiny. From Congo to Zimbabwe to Burundi South Africa's political influence has been vital. More important, the entire world is desperate to believe that the transition to democracy can actually work and South Africa stands today as the one real success story evincing that this is the case.
The instability now threatening the country is not simply a local story. The entire world, through the various international anti-apartheid movements, engaged for decades in the country's struggle against White rule. South Africa came to embody the battle for freedom, equality and non-racial democracy. It was mainly a moral quest, but South Africa's natural resources have always been essential to the western world's industrial development and the stability of the world economy and this remains the case.
Commemorating the success of ten years of Democracy in 2004 was indeed a cause for celebration, but the real test for South Africa's transition is still to come. Zuma and Mbeki are icons of the struggle, with guaranteed credentials and credibility but their ultimate legacy is still undetermined. Will the next president succumb to the daily pressures of demands accumulated over half a century of Apartheid, or rise above the frenzied factionalism and greed that threatens to destroy the dream?
Director's Statement by Jihan El-Tahri
Why did I want to make this film?
The ANC is the final liberation movement on the African continent to undergo the delicate transformation from an exiled revolutionary movement to a ruling party governing state institutions. What does this process entail? How does the ANC keep the delicate balance between the egalitarian dreams it fought for and the reality of constructing a modern state? What or whom is sacrificed in the process?
The transformation of South Africa is one instantiation of a wider reality that has taken place on the continent and throughout the 'developing world'. Because of the scarcity of success in Africa, understanding the process while it is still underway offers a powerful and much-needed model for the future. The success or failure of South Africa is key to the dynamics of transformation throughout the continent.
The new South Africa has emerged, over the past 10 years, as the main dynamo for political and economic change in the region. President Thabo Mbeki's vision for Africa and engagement with its problems has helped neighbouring countries believe that the continent can shape its own destiny. From Congo to Zimbabwe to Burundi South Africa's political influence has been vital. More important, the entire world is desperate to believe that the transition to democracy can actually work and South Africa stands today as the one real success story evincing that this is the case.
The instability now threatening the country is not simply a local story. The entire world, through the various international anti-apartheid movements, engaged for decades in the country's struggle against White rule. South Africa came to embody the battle for freedom, equality and non-racial democracy. It was mainly a moral quest, but South Africa's natural resources have always been essential to the western world's industrial development and the stability of the world economy and this remains the case.
Commemorating the success of ten years of Democracy in 2004 was indeed a cause for celebration, but the real test for South Africa's transition is still to come. Zuma and Mbeki are icons of the struggle, with guaranteed credentials and credibility but their ultimate legacy is still undetermined. Will the next president succumb to the daily pressures of demands accumulated over half a century of Apartheid, or rise above the frenzied factionalism and greed that threatens to destroy the dream?
About the Production
''Behind the Rainbow'' has been produced over a four-year period, in which we have witnessed a slew of unpredictable changes that made the filmmaking process quite challenging. When we began Jacob Zuma was still Deputy President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe was Secretary General of the ANC and Thabo Mbeki was President. Since then they have all had a few job changes and we have had to adapt ourselves to history's unfolding.
After thorough research, and research interviews with many subjects, the process of setting up filmed interviews turned out to be fraught with obstacles. With a dedicated team of six we endeavoured to secure interviews with key subjects prior to the ANC's Polokwane Conference. Despite persistent attempts, political sensitivities led nearly all the subjects to decline to be filmed before December 2007. It was only months later that we managed to secure the key interviews.
Then, mere days before we were due to wrap our post-production, Thabo Mbeki resigned. The shifts in power, we had spent years documenting, had reached an unexpectedly sudden turn. The resignation was a continuation of the events recorded at Polokwane and forced us to confront once more that difficult question 'when is our story over?'
A pact to make this film was forged in a cathedral in Milan in 2004 between Jihan El-Tahri, an Egyptian director/producer and Steven Markovitz, a South African producer. They recognized a need for a film that took an indepth look at South Africa and asked honestly what had become of the dream of the Rainbow Nation?
Despite the difficulties involved in its production, the need for such a film has only become greater in a time of national turbulence and political change. It is our hope that the film may have some positive impact on the national discourse.
About the Filmmakers
Steven Markovitz - Producer
Steven has been involved with film and television since 1989. Steven is a founding Director of the production company Big World Cinema and the Encounters Documentary Festival. He has produced and executive produced features, documentaries and shorts
In Factual programming he has produced and executive produced over 50 documentaries including the series of thirteen documentaries made by new South African documentary filmmakers called Project 10: Real Stories from a Free South Africa (Sundance, Berlin, Hot Docs, Tribeca). Sold worldwide.
Steven produced It's My Life, an intimate portrait of Zackie Achmat, the film won five international awards and sold to over 20 countries. His documentary The Tap won Best South African Documentary at the Apollo Film Festival 2003 and Best Production of the Year at the Stone Awards- (South Africa). He co-produced the docu-drama The Hidden Heart on Chris Barnard and Hamilton Naki with Swiss and German partners. The film is due for theatrical release in South Africa later this year. He produced the feature documentary Behind the Rainbow by Jihan El Tahri for ZDF, SBS, SVT, VPRO, SABC and ITVS (USA). He has recently completed a series of African short documentaries on the theme of LOVE from Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and DRC. He co-produced The Grape Escape for Discovery UK and distributed the series in South Africa. He also facilitated Ross Kemp on Gangs in South Africa for Tiger Aspect/Sky TV.
In Fiction, Steven produced the award winning South African - Canadian feature film Proteus (Berlin, Toronto).The film has sold to 9 countries including USA, Canada, UK, Germany and Italy. He is the Executive producer of the feature film Boy called Twist (Cannes) by Tim Greene sold to USA, Belgium, Holland, Greece, South Africa, Middle East. Steven produced many shorts films including Inja (nominated for an Oscar- 2003), Husk which premiered In Competition at the Cannes Film Festival (1999). He Executive produced Beyond Freedom (Berlinale competition 2006). Steven produced the short film Raya as part of the Mama Afrika series theatrically released in the USA and SA in 2003.He also produced the TV mini-series and TV movie Crossing the Line by award-winning director Brian Tilley. He is in post production on the feature film The Search for a South African Husband. He is presently executive producing a series of 15 dramas from 9 African countries entitled Latitude which is due for release in late 2009.
He is the co-Founder of Encounters - South African International Documentary Festival and the Close Encounters Documentary Laboratory, which is now in its tenth year. The Festival and Lab have played an important role in developing audiences for South African films and providing training and support for emerging filmmakers, having commissioned over 40 documentaries.
Encounters runs a distribution wing buying documentaries annually for TV, DVD/video and theatrical distribution in South Africa. Recent documentaries purchased include Cuba: An African Odyssey, The Corporation, Capturing the Friedman's, The Trials of Henry Kissinger, Control Room and Checkpoint.
He has an Honours Degree in African History from the University of Cape Town.
Jihan El-Tahri
CURRENT POSITIONS HELD
Member of the Executive Bureau of FEPACI (Federation of Pan-African Cinema)
Secretary General of The Guild of African filmmakers in the Diaspora
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Master of Arts Degree in Political Science, 1986 from the American University in Cairo. Thesis: "The Impact of Water Shortage on the Arab-Israeli Conflict" and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (with honours) in Political Science, 1984 from the American University in Cairo.
EMPLOYMENT RECORD
South Africa: March 2004 in progress
Author/Director of 2x59 minute documentary titled "Behind the Rainbow" about the transformation of the ANC from a liberation movement to a state institution. For ARTE/ ITVS (PBS)/ BBC. Currently in progress
Cuba/ Congo/ Angola: April 2004 to February 2007
Author/Director of 2x59 minute documentary (+ 3 hour DVD) titled "Requiem for Revolution: Cuba's African Odyssey" about the Cold War seen through African eyes. For ARTE/ BBC/ ITVS (PBS)
Saudi Arabia: March 2003 to April 2004
Author/Director of 2x59 minute documentary titled "The House of Saud" about the political history of Saudi Arabia. For BBC/ ARTE/ WGBH (PBS)
Zambia: September 2002 to March 2003
Author/Director of 60 minute documentary titled "The Price of Aid" about the international Food Aid system. For BBC/ ARTE
France: May to July 2002
Director of two hour programme for France 2 titled "Regard Croise sur le Sida" (viewpoints on Aids)
South Africa and Namibia: July 2001 to May 2002
Professional Support on four films of the "Steps for the Future" collection on Aids in Southern Africa. Training young South African filmmakers for documentary film skills.
France: June 2000 to June 2001
Author/ Director for Secret d'Actualite on M6
'Histoire d'un suicide: Pierre Bérégovoy' (57' documentary for M6)
Co-author/ Co-director for Secret d'Actualite on M6
'54 heures d'angoisse' (52' documentary for M6)
France: 1998 to 2000
Author/ Director of 'L'Afrique en Morceaux: La tragédie des grands lacs.' (100' documentary for Canal Plus)
England: 1995 to 1998
Associate Producer and Writer for BBC/BRIAN LAPPING
Israel and the Arabs (6X52' for BBC 2) and Co-author of accompanying book published by Penguin.
Director for Channel 4
Holidays in Hell (52' for Channel 4)
France: 1990 to 1994 (Television)
Director of 'Algerie: La vie malgé tout' (40' documentary for Canal +)
Author/Director of 'Abortion in Ireland' (26' France 2)
Author Director of 'The Spiral Tribe: Rave parties in UK' (26' France 2)
Co-Author / producer of 'Voleurs d'Organes' (52' documentary for Planete and M6)
Co-author/ Producer of 'Le Coran et la kalashnikov' (90' documentary for France 3)
Producer on 'Enfance Enchainee '(52' documentary for M6)
Producer on 'Le Jour de Drapeau' (52' documentary for Canal +)
France: 1990 à 1993 (Print)
Correspondent/ super stringer for US NEWS&WORLD REPORT (Covering Middle East)
Main stories covered: Return of Yasser Arafat to Gaza; Algerian Elections; Madrid Peace
Conference; Desert Shield and Desert Storm (Gulf war)
Tunisia: 1987 to 1990 (Print)
Tunis Special Correspondent for THE WASHINGTON POST, THE FINANCIAL TIMES (London), US NEWS&WORLD REPORT
Main stories covered: PLO, Islamic movements, Algeria
Tunisia: 1987 to 1990 (Television)
TV Researcher/ Associate Producer
- Do they feel my shadow (52' for BBC 2)
- The Fundamental Question (52' for Channel 4)
- Arafat: Behind the Myth (52' for BBC 1)
- Terrorism (4X52' for Channel 4)
- Heaven can wait (3X52' for HBO/ PBS)
EGYPT: 1984 to 1987
Cairo Correspondent for THE SUNDAY TIMES (London)
Correspondent for REUTERS news agency
AWARDS
Nomination for the EMY Award for "House of Saud" 2005
BANFF FESTIVAL Award for "House of Saud" 2005
European Media Prize "The price of Aid" 2004
BRITISH TELEVISION Award for "Israel and the Arabs" 1998
FIGRA d'OR for "Le Coran et la kalashnikov" 1995
EDWIN HOOD Award: First place, Diplomatic correspondence 1994
Nomination for the EMY Award for "Do They Feel my Shadow" 1990
BOOKS
"Les Sept Vies de Yasser Arafat" Published with Grasset
"Israel and the Arabs: the 50 years war" Published with Penguin
NEXT PAGE: READ MORE ABOUT THE SUBJECTS OF THE DOCUMENTARY
PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN FILMMAKING
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