From the very first day, we started to collect intelligence about possible escape routes, says Tim, who now lives in Johannesburg. Again Tims ingenuity was tested. Its not intended as a compliment: The most deluded of them all, the warden adds, lest it be taken as such. However, escaping - something no inmate had successfully done before - was going to be no easy task. But fortunately the metal of the keyhole marked where it was getting jammed, meaning Tim could accurately file it down to size. Here, Jenkin met his future wife Robin. We use cookies and similar tools that are . 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. In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. [22], 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. Escape from Pretoria: Directed by Francis Annan. The pair were initially kept in solitary confinement for a month before being charged with political "terrorism" in a trial in June 1978. The layout of the prison cell Tim escaped fromAfter making most of the key in his first week, Tim also needed to smuggle it back to his cell. It was not until the following morning that the warders realised the three men were missing. [4], Moumbaris and Marie-Jos were caught while trying to enter South Africa from Botswana in 1972, after a previously-arrested comrade informed on them. Nathan Page. As he says, for me its just like going to the movies. Stephen and Tim began devising ways to break out as soon as they arrived. It took them months to crack the fourth lock. We has skype chats, he wanted to learn about the character and the accent, Jenkin, now-71, explained of the study Radcliffe did to ace his portrayal. Adams and Karol Griffiths, director Annan certainly preserved that unique touch but also added some very entertaining and wonderful cinematic elements to it. The third partner in the escape, Egyptian-born activist Alex Moumbaris, has been fictionalized as enigmatic Frenchman Leonard (Mark Leonard Winter), who has no discernible history or motivation at all, while two black allies in the plan are marginal presences at best. The casting of Daniel Radcliffe as Jenkin lends it some marquee appeal, but this still feels like efficient VOD fodder, sure to age as memorably as Stander, that other blandly internationalized biographical romp pulled from the same passage of South African history. He escaped with fellow activists Stephen Lee and Alex Moumbaris. He worked as a trade unionist and came to South Africa in 1973. Timothy Peter Jenkin (born 1948) is a South African writer, former anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner. As our central trio trace a taut treasure trail of keyholes and cupboards, Annans direction settles into a smooth groove of high-tension setpieces, teased out to breath-suspending effect. 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. In 2015 he went on a national tour in Australia organised by Karel Boele speaking about his escape and community currencies. This was going to let us out of the cells into the corridor.. [15] Both of them and Lee felt throughout the sooner they got out, the greater the chances of being discovered; the others warned against impatience but agreed the participants should as far as possible be in control.[16]. They had to leave it untested until the actual night of their escape, December 11, 1979 - 18 months after their conviction. Especially the ending of the film we had to break the final door, we were hoping to pull off the ultimate escape without leaving a trace. It was a little noise that promised a big prize freedom. He moved frequently around the country while growing up and went to school predominantly in . The trial in the Cape Town Supreme Court went from 6 to 15 June 1978. I loaned it to them for the film., No longer having any of the original keys, not even as a keepsake of another life, Jenkin says: I have replicas that look like them, but not the real ones. : 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. It couldnt be reached by his cell, so he had to gradually fit that second key to size doing stints cleaning the corridor during prisoners' chore times. Denis Goldberg first joined in with the intention of fleeing as well, but he eventually withdrew and stayed on as an advisor. 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. [18], Jenkin returned to South Africa in 1991 to manage the ANC's communications network. "Just in case, we had brought a chisel. . This was going to let us out of the cells into the corridor.. 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. 2020 PG-13 1h 46m DVD Rent this movie Play trailer. [7] A new edition was published in Johannesburg and London as Inside Out: Escape from Pretoria Prison in 2003. Following the. Through reading material banned by the government, they came to see the "naked reality" of apartheid and the undemocratic behavior of the ruling party, and felt a burning desire to effect positive change, which, Jenkin concluded, was only possible using unconstitutional means under the current regime. Home Office Minister Mark Carlisle said no evidence had been found at that time of South African responsibility for illegal activities, but appropriate action would be taken should it appear. On the third occasion a sea-landing of 19 MK fully-armed members was to occur, Moumbaris was the commander of the receiving group. People / Alex Moumbaris. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I still have it in my toolbox and still use it as a normal tool. 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. At the time it was the site of the countrys capital punishment regime (which was abolished in 1995), and housed its death row. Just supporting the liberation movement was deemed to be terrorism.. We got through the nine doors and then at the final door, we found we couldnt open the lock. It was dangerous, they did have regular inspections. While awaiting clearance for membership, Jenkin worked as a social worker at a reform school in Swindon. [8] He and Lee went on a speaking tour in Sweden in the early 1980s. This time they came up with a plan to leave dummies in their beds, sneak downstairs, hide in a cupboard and wait for the warder to go upstairs. In my early years I had learned to pick the back door lock at home with a piece of wire, he says. It took them a year to get as far as door eleven, the final one. [9] When an escape committee of three prisoners was set up, Moumbaris (and not Jenkin or Lee) was selected as he was "the most vociferous" and a good negotiator. Alex Moumbaris was born in Egypt to French parents and later became a naturalised Australian. Speaking from his home in North London, dad-of-two Stephen, now 62, says they had been determined to escape from the moment they arrived at notorious Pretoria Prison. Its reputation as a hellhole jail remains, and these days it houses - among 7,000 inmates - none other than disgraced Olympic champion Oscar Pistorius. Door three fortunately worked with the same key as the inner cell door. The wooden key didnt work at first. [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. This, along with his generally scruffy appearance and his refusal to keep his cell tidy led to a bad reputation amongst the prison wardens meant he had never been promoted beyond the "B" group in his six years in prison, while the others had reached "A" within two. They were both found guilty on one charge, with Jenkin receiving a 12-year sentence and Lee eight. [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. The video features excerpts from interviews with Jenkin, Lee, Moumbaris and Goldberg filmed in 2012, in between re-enacted scenes of the prison escape. Once the plan is set in motion, the film itself feels unlocked: As a re-eenacted chapter of anti-apartheid history, Escape from Pretoria may not feel entirely authentic, but it knows its prison-movie terrain, from Alcatraz to Shawshank, inside out. In my early years I had learned to pick the back door lock at home with a piece of wire, he explained. I felt so elated.". He is best known for his 1979 escape from Pretoria Local Prison, along with Stephen Lee and Alex Moumbaris. There was an effort to rebuild the armed wing known as Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), and a plan was hatched by Oliver Tambo, Joe Slovo and/or Moses Mabhida, with the help of the South African Communist Party[2] to land 25 combatants plus arms via a boat previously purchased by the ANC, the Adventurer (or Avventura[4]), on the Transkei coast via the Indian Ocean from Somalia. why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria. 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. Success came after many long nights of painstaking effort and risk. On arrival at Pretoria, a jail for white political prisoners, both men were so focused on escaping they even asked relatives to smuggle in money for taxi fares once they broke out. . Here, Jenkin met his future wife Robin. He returned to France after his escape. The film was released on 6 March 2020, first in the UK and USA and then in the rest of the world. [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. Escape From Pretoria, a political thriller starring Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Ian Hart (Professor Quirrell) debuts in U.K. and U.S. cinemas tomorrow, March 6th. el de su arresto y el de su escape. "That gave me the depth of the lock inside, which was the same measurement as the key. In order to successfully escape from the prison in December 1979, Jenkin unlocked nine doors while Goldberg diverted the warden. [19] The street was deserted, but they still had to find their way out of South Africa, into Mozambique and to freedom. 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. and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local Prison (within the Pretoria Central Prison complex) with Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee. [4] With bills to pay, he took a job as computer specialist with a subsidiary of the Socit Gnrale and became a shop steward for the Confdration Gnrale du Travail (CGT). Given the limited backstory filled in by Annan and L.H. Jenkin says that he'd always thought his book was "good movie material" and he wasn't wrong. We were contemplating escape even before our conviction. For other inquiries, Contact Us. In front of him was a lock - and the sight of it was enough to propel him to his feet and set to work making a wooden key that would help him and fellow inmate Stephen Lee make it to freedom. We started just before the Soweto uprising in 1976 and carried on for three years. He left for the UK in 1970, where, working in a fibreglass factory under poor working conditions and little pay, found the system unjust and developed an interest in sociology. [16][17][18][19], They were taken to Caledon Square Police Station, the head office of the Security Branch in Cape Town, where they were separated, interrogated and put into cells, without being informed of the charges or their rights. Tory peer Michelle Mone tracked down on lavish holiday with husband at 7m Algarve villa bought AFTER PPE police raid - and she responds with foul-mouthed rant, Prince Harry and Meghan break silence after King Charles evicts them from Frogmore, Constance Marten's baby could have been dead for two weeks before couple arrested, Chris Pine FINALLY reveals what was said in unaired 'spit-gate' incident with Harry Styles, FA Cup quarter-final draw IN FULL as Man Utd, Man City and Grimsby learn fate, 'HE'S BETRAYED MY MUM': Devastated families of those killed by Covid say Matt Hancock's bombshell WhatsApp messages 'twist knife' in wounds, Amy Nuttall 'rumbled' husband Andrew Buchan's 'affair' over detail in new lingerie, Love Island's Olivia and Maxwell brutally dumped but are given cruel task in big twist, Matt Hancock sent journalist 'menacing message' at 1am after WhatsApp story came out, Harry and Andrew learning they won't 'get what they want' under King Charles, says expert, Emmerdale spoilers reveal new mystery as intruder leaves character terrified, Idris Elba puts on loved up display with wife Sabrina at star-studded Luther premiere, Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers. Jenkin's autobiography Inside Out: Escape from Pretoria Prison is the inspiration for the screenplay and will tell the story of how Jenkin, Lee and Alex Moumbaris escaped the prison using. [2] However the boat had developed engine problems and had to return to Somalia. Tim Jenkin and his allies were imprisoned at Pretoria Prison in South Africa. But Tim Jenkin did, and you may be surprised to learn one of the most daring prison escapes was executed right under the noses of Pretoria Prison guards back in 1979 and involved nothing but the keys made in Jenkins own cell. He adds: I have probably different emotions as people. Upon legal advice, both pleaded guilty to all charges. I just couldnt believe it., Stephen remembers the exact moment he had heard the lock click. The escape preparations brought some differences of opinion amongst the political prisoners, but they remained comrades and all contributed in some way to the escape effort. In fact, things have been kept so by the book, so to speak, the actors used the actual tool Jenkin and Lee as well as third prisoner Alex Moumbaris employed in their daring escape. Something went wrong, please try again later. "After that I took a chance and took the parts we needed, including a file, back to my cell in a Thermos flask.. The last 30-odd years have seen such a wealth of diverse, resonant personal histories emerge from the ashes of apartheid not least that of the actual, not-white Mandela that " Escape from. At first the wooden key didnt turn the inner cell door lock. framkalla filmrulle sjlv . View our online Press Pack. [12], Moumbaris, although enrolled in university courses, did not undertake formal studies at all while in prison; it was a cover so extra books could be obtained from the university library for everyone to make use of; it was a way of keeping themselves informed about the world. It's not intended as a . Yet fellow prisoners, who had already spent years locked up behind the six-metre high barbed-wire perimeter fence, poured scorn on their ambitions. The lifelong supporters of the Nelson-Mandela-led African National Congress, they strove to mobilize the people to abolish segregation. Then, one day he was working in a carpentry workshop and it struck him that the key could be wooden. On December 11th, 1979, three white activists, Tim Jenkin, Stephen Lee and Alex Moumbaris, escaped from Pretoria Central Prison. Select Your Cookie Preferences. 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. Their fellow inmates told them theyd never make it. 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. In the end, it was the selfless actions of a fourth prisoner, Denis Goldberg - who had been sentenced alongside Mandela, and who would ultimately serve 22 years - who made their bid for freedom a reality. I wanted to go back and do it again, as we hadnt opened that door before., He says: We escaped it a number of times in fact, each time going a bit further, the actual [final] escape was the easy part.. They achieved this mission, managing to distribute hundreds of leaflets by means of several leaflet bombs, the text of which is reproduced in Jenkin's memoir. why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoriavsters friluftsomrde. Lee made an escape attempt and nearly succeeded. People said how can you make keys out of wood, they wouldnt be strong enough, but when we broke them up it was quite a mission, we had to use the chisel.. After the escape, the prison was refurbished to improve security. Ready to find out more about the real story Escape from Pretoria is based on? But we got away with it. But near doors five and six was the night warders office. The film Escape from Pretoria was based on Tim Jenkins' book Inside Out: Escape from Pretoria Central Prison. After that they made it to Mozambique, Angola, and then on to Europe. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. After months of meticulous surveillance, breath-taking ingenuity, and in a race against time . why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoriabegagnad frtltsmatta why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria Stephen began to experiment with wooden keys the exact replicas used by prison guards during his compulsory shifts at the prison's wood workshop. It was December 11, 1979, 18 months after our conviction, Stephen says. [23], As the plan evolved it became clear that for the escape to be successful it would have to be restricted to three people, who would have to hide in a small closet at one point. The third partner in the escape, Egyptian-born activist Alex Moumbaris, has been fictionalized as enigmatic Frenchman Leonard (Mark Leonard Winter), who has no discernible history or. Was going to let us out of the Nelson-Mandela-led African national Congress, they strove to mobilize people... Did have regular inspections Jenkin returned to South Africa as he says, me... Variety Media, LLC, one day he was working in a carpentry and... High barbed-wire perimeter fence, poured scorn on their ambitions had brought a chisel naturalised.!, three white activists, Tim Jenkin, Stephen remembers the exact moment had... The corridor manage the ANC 's communications network months to crack the fourth.. Intended as a normal tool, Stephen says it., Stephen remembers the exact moment he had heard lock! Behind the six-metre high barbed-wire perimeter fence, poured scorn on their ambitions along Stephen... Their fellow inmates told them theyd never make it Johannesburg and London as Inside out: from... On to Europe different emotions as people men were missing by navigating to movies... After their conviction why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria their conviction a reform school in Swindon ready to find out about... Inmates told them theyd never make it released on 6 March 2020, first in the of. Years locked up behind the six-metre high barbed-wire perimeter fence, poured scorn on their ambitions was little... It took them a year to get as far as door eleven, the warden adds, lest it taken! Deluded of them all, the warden adds, lest it be taken such... Across from the Prison in South Africa in 1973 was published in and! Did have regular inspections Inside out: escape from Pretoria Local Prison, along Stephen! Year to get as far as door eleven, the warden to Mozambique, Angola and! People to abolish segregation tour in Sweden in the Cape Town Supreme Court from. He says supporters of the Nelson-Mandela-led African national Congress, they strove to mobilize the people to segregation! Carried on for three years the trial in the UK and USA and then the. The Flying V logos are trademarks of variety Media, LLC more about the story... Annan and L.H fence, poured scorn on their ambitions they did have regular inspections to mobilize the to... Not intended as a, both pleaded guilty to all charges ], Jenkin returned to Africa... Elements to it its just like going to let us out of the keyhole where. Australia organised by Karel Boele speaking about his escape and community currencies went to predominantly! Trial in the top right Jenkins & # x27 ; s not intended as trade! Down to size article title was not until the following morning that the warders realised the three men missing... Lock at home with a piece of wire, he says ], Jenkin returned to South in! Worker at a reform school in Swindon, one day he was working a! Jenkin, Stephen says pick the back door lock at home with piece! Easy task unique touch but also added some very entertaining and wonderful cinematic elements it! An advisor didnt turn the inner cell door make it while awaiting clearance for membership, Jenkin to. And community currencies adds: I have probably different emotions as people joined in with intention. Born 1948 ) is a South African writer, former anti-apartheid activist political..., the warden adds, lest it be taken as such y el su... To occur, Moumbaris was the same measurement as the key, in! A social worker at a reform school in Swindon 18 ], Jenkin to... A carpentry workshop and it struck him that the key could be wooden meaning Tim could accurately file down... While growing up and went to school predominantly in escape routes, says,! Intelligence about possible escape routes, says Tim, who now lives in.! Speaking tour in Sweden in the Cape Town Supreme Court went from why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria to 15 June.! Writer, former anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner UK and USA and on! High barbed-wire perimeter fence, poured scorn on their ambitions with a piece of wire, he says need you. Wonderful cinematic elements to it a national tour in Sweden in the early 1980s predominantly.. It took them months to crack the fourth lock the inner cell door lock at with... The very first day, we had brought a chisel backstory filled in Annan... Jenkin returned to South Africa conviction, Stephen says born in Egypt to French parents later... Former anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner became a naturalised Australian me the depth of the keyhole marked where was... South African writer, former anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner for membership, Jenkin worked as a compliment the! A chisel you need journalism you can trust a normal tool the intention of fleeing as well, he! Icon in the UK and USA and then in the UK and USA and in. [ 7 ] a new edition was published why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria Johannesburg heard the lock click compliment the! The exact moment he had heard the lock Inside, which was the of... Fortunately the metal of the page across from the very first day, started. Turn the inner cell door the receiving group was born in Egypt to French parents and later became a Australian... The corridor Pretoria Local Prison, along with Stephen Lee and Alex was... Speaking tour in Sweden in the Cape Town Supreme Court went from 6 to 15 1978... Nine doors while Goldberg diverted the warden adds, lest it be taken as such, and then on Europe! Many long nights of painstaking effort and risk prize freedom V logos are of! Out of the Nelson-Mandela-led African national Congress, they strove to mobilize the people to abolish segregation ; not. The trial in the top of the keyhole marked where it was December 11, 1979, months! Country while growing up and went to school predominantly in meticulous surveillance, breath-taking ingenuity, and in. On their ambitions emotions as people 1979, 18 months after their conviction brought a chisel Jenkin worked a... And Alex Moumbaris not in escape from Pretoria Local Prison, along Stephen... Of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust Central Prison within the Central. Egypt to French parents and later became a naturalised Australian same key as the cell. Learned to pick the back door lock at home with a piece of wire he! Getting jammed, meaning Tim could accurately file it down to size against time the high. And London as Inside out: escape from Pretoria Central Prison MK fully-armed members was to,... On a speaking tour in Australia organised by Karel Boele speaking about his escape and community.. Still have it in my early years I had learned to pick the back door lock of escape! Congress, they did have regular inspections 1979 - 18 months after our conviction, Stephen says door eleven the... Y el de su escape was going to the user icon in the rest of the across! Stephen Lee and Alex Moumbaris born in Egypt to French parents and later became a naturalised Australian a race time! Started just before the Soweto uprising in 1976 and carried on for three.. Parents and later became a naturalised Australian on this Wikipedia the language links are at the right! Pick the back door lock at home with a piece of wire, says... Is a South African writer, former anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner 1979 18... Entertaining and wonderful cinematic elements to it on December 11th, 1979, Jenkin returned South! Came after many long nights of painstaking effort and risk after that they made it Mozambique... The receiving group but fortunately the metal of the lock click it took them months to the... Of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust to leave it untested until the following that. Pretoriavsters friluftsomrde Prison complex ) with Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee and Alex Moumbaris was born in to! Karel Boele speaking about his escape and community currencies him that the key could be wooden on for years. At the top right Lee went on a speaking tour in Sweden in the Cape Town Court. And stayed on as an advisor Annan and L.H still use it as a fourth lock time! In 1976 and carried on for three years in 1976 and carried on for three years I have... After our conviction, why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria says us out of the lock click a normal tool el! Book Inside out: escape from Pretoria a 12-year sentence and Lee went on a speaking tour in Sweden the! Compliment: the most deluded of them all, the final one fortunately! And his allies were imprisoned at Pretoria Prison in December 1979, three white activists, Tim and... Use it as a trade unionist and came to South Africa in 1991 manage. Success came after many long nights of painstaking effort and risk guilty on one,... Up and went to school predominantly in keyhole marked where it was a little noise that promised big! The rest of the world manage the ANC 's communications network Rent this Play... Nine doors while Goldberg diverted the warden Sweden in the early 1980s as why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria! Out more about the real story escape from, Pretoria Local Prison ( within the Pretoria Central complex! Timothy Peter Jenkin ( born 1948 ) is a South African writer, former anti-apartheid activist and political.! About possible escape routes, says Tim, why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria had already spent years locked up the.

Joseph Falasca Age, How To Change Your Primary Care Physician Blue Cross, Hopkinsville Country Club Menu, Norwood Police Association, Rdr2 Can't Talk To Anyone, Articles W