{"id":992,"date":"2013-03-20T12:40:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-20T11:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africavenir.com\/german-premiere-the-cradock-four-by-david-forbes-11-04-2013-20h00-hackesche-hoefe-kino\/"},"modified":"2023-10-06T11:30:55","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T09:30:55","slug":"german-premiere-the-cradock-four-by-david-forbes-11-04-2013-20h00-hackesche-hoefe-kino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africavenir.org\/en\/german-premiere-the-cradock-four-by-david-forbes-11-04-2013-20h00-hackesche-hoefe-kino\/","title":{"rendered":"German Premiere: “The Cradock Four” by David Forbes, 11.04.2013, 20h00, Hackesche H\u00f6fe Kino"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Thursday, 11th April 2013 at 8 p.m.<\/b> AfricAvenir presents the German Premiere of the South African documentary "The Cradock Four"<\/b> with Director David Forbes in attendance. \u201cThe Cradock Four\u201d reconstructs the story of one of Apartheid\u2019s murkiest and most controversial episodes<\/b> \u2013 the targeted killing of one of the leading figures of Eastern Cape anti-Apartheid resistance Matthew Goniwe and three comrades. The film shows the oppressive climate of the sombre racist regime<\/b> in the seventies and early eighties. Using compelling archive, interviews and dramatic recreations, the film reveals the ideals which led Matthew Goniwe and his friends<\/b> to support the liberation struggle. The assassinations signalled the \u201cBeginning of the End\u201d of the racist Apartheid regime. Within five years Nelson Mandela would walk free, and later lead the country to liberation in 1994. The screening will be followed by a discussion<\/b> with the director David Forbes<\/b> and a small reception in the cinema foyer. <\/p>\n

This screening is organized in cooperation with Jozi.tv and Initiative Black Germans (ISD).<\/i><\/p>\n

Synopsis:<\/b>
Matthew Goniwe was a popular schoolteacher in a small South African rural town. His inspirational community leadership in resisting Apartheid resulted in the government secretly ordering his "permanent removal from society". <\/p>\n

Goniwe produced excellent results as a teacher, and he introduced discipline. He had been politicised by the death in a guerrilla skirmish of his elder brother Jacques, who had returned to fight Apartheid. Matthew had also spent four years in jail for possessing banned communist literature, feared by the regime as \u201cthe Red Danger\u201d.<\/p>\n

In the small farming town of Cradock, in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, Matthew turned community outrage with high rents and bad roads into an effective Cradock Residents\u2019 Association (Cradora). But the political Security Police connived to transfer the troublesome teacher out of town. When he refused, he was fired.<\/p>\n

This resulted in a schools boycott, which spread countrywide. Matthew was also organising for the United Democratic Front, a grouping of more than 500 organisations opposed to Apartheid, and he was working underground for both the communist party and the armed wing of the banned African National Congress.<\/p>\n

Matthew\u2019s contribution was to set up alternative structures in the \u201ctownships\u201d, creating, in effect, a \u201cliberated zone\u201d. This was known as the \u201cG Plan\u201d and would become a model throughout South Africa, and help lead to the demise of Apartheid.<\/p>\n

But the generals had decided that Matthew was too dangerous. <\/p>\n

Late on the winter night of 27 June 1985, South Africa\u2019s Security Forces set up a roadblock near Port Elizabeth, and abducted Matthew and three other activists, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkonto and Sicelo Mhlauli. They murdered them in cold blood, then burnt the bodies. \u201cThe Cradock Four", as they came to be known, were later found near the Port Elizabeth suburb of Bluewater Bay. The murders were one of Apartheid\u2019s murkiest and most controversial episodes. <\/p>\n

The film shows the oppressive climate of the sombre racist regime in the seventies and early eighties. It shows how the system broke the freedom, and the lives, of four young men. Using compelling archive, interviews and dramatic recreations, the film reveals the ideals which led Matthew and his friends to support the liberation struggle. The assassinations signalled the \u201cBeginning of the End\u201d of the racist Apartheid regime. Within five years Nelson Mandela would walk free, and later lead the country to liberation in 1994.<\/p>\n

The film’s style incorporates four main visual elements: interviews, archive, dramatic recreations and lyrical visuals, woven tightly together to produce a chilling story that moves with pace. Powerful high contrast visuals, often set at night, create a real sense of the menace of Apartheid and the power arraigned against the protagonists featuring archive of Matthew Goniwe talking about Apartheid and education, and many scenes of police brutality.<\/p>\n

It is now more than 25 years since the death of the Cradock Four. Despite two inquests and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in which the murderers were denied amnesty, no-one has yet been prosecuted.<\/p>\n

Winner Best South African Documentary, Durban International Film Festival 2010<\/p>\n

Press Reviews<\/b>
\u201cThe death of these gallant freedom fighters marked a turning point in the history of our Struggle. No longer could the regime govern in the old way. They were the true heroes of the struggle.\u201d<\/i> \u2013 Nelson Mandela<\/p>\n

\u201cThe film brings us back to the oppressive age of the acts of violence and the impunity against which the ANC activists fought with combativeness through the united democratic front, and its civil disobedience and school protests.\u201d<\/i> Aziz Fall<\/p>\n

\u201cI was once again reminded of the incredible brave people that had the guts to pick a stone up against an entire armed army. I was reminded of the remarkable leaders that instigated and brilliantly orchestrated the resistance against unspeakable horrific oppression. I was reminded that we can never compare our country with any other one, as what we have today, was not an accident. It was through bravery and sacrifice that we were all freed from that madness. An extraordinary emotional film, that the film maker bring us through an insightful weave and combination of dramatized incidents along with interviews and exceptional REAL footage, that will make the hair rise on your skin.\u201d<\/i> Anita Van Hemert<\/p>\n

Director: David Forbes<\/b>
David Forbes is an award-winning South African director honed by his training as a cinematographer and his earlier work as a photographer, journalist and newspaper sub-editor. During his 30 years in the industry, he has worked in 34 countries around the world for most of the major TV stations and broadcasters, on documentaries, commercials, corporates, feature films and TV dramas. He is also a producer, writer and editor in his own right, and distributes African content to the global market through his production\/distribution company, Shadow Films. <\/p>\n

Forbes also has been active in training for 26 years. He wrote and ran the first-ever Clapper Loader Course in South Africa in 1987. He founded The Camera Guild in 1993, helped form the PAWE TSC (trade union) as well as the South African Guild of Editors and the Art Department Guild, and was a founder of the Consultative Committee\u2019s Training Trust Fund. Forbes helped train producers and directors for \u201cDramatic Encounters\u201d, and mentored several young people doing their first steps in the film industry. He is active in the Independent Producers\u2019 Organisation (IPO) and the Documentary Filmmakers\u2019 Association, where he headed the Strategy and Communications section. He also sat on the Board of Sithengi in 2007\/8 and now sits on the executive board of the South African Screen Federation, the policy making body of the independent film industry, where he heads up the Risk Management and Strategy portfolios. <\/p>\n

See more information at www.shadowfilms.co.za<\/link> <\/p>\n

Selected Filmography:<\/b>n<\/p>\n