William Hurt and Chiwetel Ejiofor star in "Endgame," the riveting season premiere of Masterpiece Contemporary.
ENDGAME
8 p.m. Sunday, WTTW (PBS)
Tune in or out? 
out of four.
PBS masterfully tells small apartheid tale in 'Endgame'
PBS' Masterpiece Contemporary returns with a new host, David Tennant of "Doctor Who" fame, and a tense political thriller about the beginning of the end of South African apartheid.
Jonny Lee Miller (top) and Clarke Peters also star in "Endgame." PBS photos
African National Congress leader Thabo Mbeki (Chiwetel Ejiofor), influential Afrikaner Will Esterhuyse (William Hurt) and others risked their lives to talk peace despite threats from the government's secret police and bombing attacks by black activists.
These talks, while not the only event of the late 1980s that helped end apartheid according to L.A. Times reporter Scott Kraft, were significant because they included Esterhuyse and other leading members of the Broederbond, the Afrikaner group that had been the original architects of the apartheid system.
The film masterfully dramatizes a small part of history--how former adversaries Esterhuyse and Mbeki grew to respect and trust each other. It also dramatizes a momentous part--the release after 30 years in prison of future South African president Nelson Mandela (Clarke Peters).
Knowing that apartheid lasted another four years after Mandela's release didn't make the dramatization of that event any less powerful; I cried and cheered.
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5 Comments
Firewalker said:
I am so glad I talked with a friend this evening and that she mentioned the PBS feature "Endgame".
It was extraordinary and has so much to say about how negotiations actually work and really do more effectively solve conflict.
The program notes afterward were especially interesting and revealing as for support of negotiations by the writer, producer, etc. and how individuals can make a difference by acting and remaining out of the limelight, so to speak.
Thank you for encouraging highlighting this programming. I really think it can be used by us
and in classrooms to make the point that negotiations are tough and that they do work.
The fact that a network of negotiators ( ANC, Sine Fin, Hamas ) has formed because of the success of these and talks or efforts is another amazing outcome of the whole affair.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Thanks again,
Curt Wagner said:
Here's for talking things out. Thanks for commenting.
What a powerful expose into the "behind the scenes" machinations that led to the eventual end of apartheid. I did not know about the "players" who were directly involved in bringing a hideous institution down to it's knees. I was particularly struck by the fact that this model is being emulated by other countries who are interested in bringing about peace in their resprctive countries and between groups and other countries. I want to see this movie again.
Madoyster
Curt Wagner said:
Thanks for your comments. Just remember, these talks were not the only thing that helped end apartheid. "Endgame" should be out on DVD soon. Thanks for reading,
Damiana Vance said:
A thoroughly engrossing and moving drama - and it was really great to see such a fine performance from Chiwetel Ejiofor. I've been a fan of this underrated actor for years now.
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