why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria

I was so worried it was making a tremendous noise. Unwilling to take any more risks, they had to leave this final barrier untested until the night of the actual escape. Door three fortunately worked with the same key as the inner cell door. We walked out as if we had every right to be there.". We have a base load of around 70 [15], At 3am the morning of 2 March 1978, Jenkin and Lee were both arrested, after being seen moving their printing equipment into their own dwelling. He is evidently based on the Egyptian-born French national, Alex Moumbaris, with whom the men actually broke out, although it isn't clear why his character has been fictionalised and the. After months of meticulous surveillance, breath-taking ingenuity, and in a race against time as the authorities strengthen the prison security defenses, the group craft wooden keys for each of the 10 steel doors separating them from the main door and freedom. "Im glad I played the part I did," he said. 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. "We were right underneath an armed guard but he didnt see us. Director Francis Annan and his co-writer L.H . Using the broom he was allowed to keep to sweep his cell, he created another genius contraption. [5] He later wrote that he had "grown up a 'normal' complacent white South African" who "unthinkingly accepted the system and for twenty-one years never questioned it". Stephen began to experiment with wooden keys the exact replicas used by prison guards during his compulsory shifts at the prison's wood workshop. From the very first day, we started to collect intelligence about possible escape routes, says Tim, who now lives in Johannesburg. A lot of people cant understand how we got the shape of the key, but if you break it down most of the dimensions you get from the lock itself, you measure the hole, Jenkin explains like its nothing. Rent EGP 29.99 Buy EGP 149.99 Trailers Trailer 14+ COMMON SENSE Escape from Pretoria," however, the line acts as a shortcut to nobility, in a tight genre exercise that has scant time for such elaborate niceties as character development and social context. Then, one day he was working in a carpentry workshop and it struck him that the key could be wooden. . On 9 January Moumbaris left for France and was welcomed upon arrival in Paris by Marie-Jos (whom he had not seen for seven years), his mother, 7-year-old son Boris, and many friends and well-wishers. While reminiscing about his childhood years, he suddenly remembered how he would pick locks back at home. While awaiting clearance for membership, Jenkin worked as a social worker at a reform school in Swindon. 3 views today. [7] Goldberg distracted the warden while the three made their escape. La historia del activista sudafricano Tim Jenkin inspira Fuga de Pretoria, . Banished to the vast prison complex of Pretoria, the countrys administrative capital, Jenkin and Lee are protectively counseled by veteran liberal political prisoner Denis Goldberg (British veteran Ian Hart, giving the character a geezer-y air), who advises them to keep their heads down and to serve their time with dignity as prisoners of conscience. The youngsters, countering that they are instead prisoners of war, immediately set about an escape plan regardless. He adds: I have probably different emotions as people. 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. 2020 PG-13 1h 46m DVD . We would spot the night warden and your heart is just pumping," said Tim. After his brainwave about fashioning a lock for his cell door while lying on his bunk bed, Tim felt confident the plan would work. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Tim's door was just the beginning. It's not intended as a compliment: "The most deluded of them all," the warden adds, lest it be taken as such. . The pair, who are both now in their 70s, settled in north London, with Tim eventually relocating to Johannesburg years later. [2], Moumbaris was still living in Normandy as of July 2017[update]. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. It was dangerous, they did have regular inspections. As clunkily deployed in the [] "You are the white Mandela," says a ham-faced warden, all but spitting in the face of anti-apartheid activist Tim Jenkin upon his arrival at Pretoria Local Prison in 1978. Tim Jenkin and his allies were imprisoned at Pretoria Prison in South Africa. "You get back to your cell and youd think, 'OK, its over, I can relax' but you couldnt.". Adapted from Jenkin's memoir of his time served and resourcefully cut short as a South African political prisoner in the country's darkest . 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.. There he met and married a French woman, Marie-Jos. "Just in case, we had brought a chisel. I felt so elated. When youre making it the lock is right there, you keep filing it until it fits in the holes. Lee made an escape attempt and nearly succeeded. [1], Moumbaris was the only non-South African prisoner, and when Jenkin met him, he appeared as "a little aloof". 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 Pretoria could well have missed its moment entirely. United Nations High Commission for Refugees, "Press Conference by O. R. Tambo, Introducing Alexandre Moumbaris, Stephen Lee and Timothy Jenkin who Escaped from Prison in South Africa", "Ambassador Molekane receives stalwart of the apartheid struggle Alex Moumbaris at the SA Embassy", "Media Statement by the Chancellor of the National Orders and Director-General in the Presidency, Dr. Cassius Lubisi, at the Union Buildings, Pretoria", "Daniel Radcliffe to Star in Prison-Break Drama 'Escape From Pretoria', "Sam Neill joins Daniel Radcliffe in 'Escape From Pretoria', "Adelaide transformed into apartheid-era Cape Town for Escape From Pretoria filming", "Daniel Radcliffe touches down in Adelaide for new movie", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alex_Moumbaris&oldid=1101678249, All Wikipedia articles written in South African English, Articles containing potentially dated statements from July 2017, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 August 2022, at 07:50. "Im glad that we escaped. After hundreds of days of looking at the keys, he commits their shape to memory and successfully makes replicas for all nineteen doors that lead to the main gate of the prison. Escape from Pretoria at IMDb "20 Films That Starred 3 Or More Harry Potter Actors". Jenkin says that he'd always thought his book was "good movie material" and he wasn't wrong. In December 1979, Jenkin, Lee, and fellow inmate Alex Moumbaris successfully escaped from the prison with Jenkin unlocking nine of its doors while Goldberg distracted the warden. The pair were initially kept in solitary confinement for a month before being charged with political "terrorism" in a trial in June 1978. Escape From Pretoria (2020 ) Directed and Written: Francis Annan Eenmaal onder de vleugels van politiek activist Denis Goldberg besluiten ze om, samen. "This was going to let us out of the cells into the corridor," he added. Sporting a squirrelly shag wig and a valiantly attempted but wayward Cape Town accent, Radcliffe plays Jenkin, a middle-class sociology student turned underground activist for the African National Congress, with his own brand of puppyish but righteous commitment. Jenkin and Lee, furious about being imprisoned for their thoughts, wanted to escape to prove to the world their differences, and of course, to fight for democracy in their country. Escape from Pretoria sees Daniel Radcliffe in a very different role from his work in the Harry Potter franchise. We were contemplating escape even before our conviction. [21], In May 2011, Moumbaris was charged with making a "Public call to discrimination" and set to appear in court in Flers, in Normandy. Select Your Cookie Preferences. Moumbaris is renamed Leonard Fontaine and played by Mark Leonard Winter.[27][28]. In 1997, he became a director of Unwembi Communications (Pty) Ltd.[7], Around the turn of the millennium Jenkin co-founded the Community Exchange System, an internet-based moneyless exchange for local communities, comparable to LETS, writing the entirety of its software. All Rights Reserved. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. [2] He started associating with African National Congress (ANC) exiles and beginning in 1967, he travelled in and out of South Africa transporting literature for the movement. framkalla filmrulle sjlv . The video features excerpts from interviews with Jenkin, Lee, Moumbaris and Goldberg filmed in 2012, in between re-enacted scenes of the prison escape. This was how he knew how long the key needed to be. [31][32] 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. As such, they were brought to the attention of South Africa's secret police. On the third occasion a sea-landing of 19 MK fully-armed members was to occur, Moumbaris was the commander of the receiving group. The wooden key didnt work at first. As he says, for me its just like going to the movies. Hirson then communicated with Joe Slovo in Mozambique and a date for the escape was set and an escape vehicle arranged. Timothy Peter Jenkin (born 1948) is a South African writer, former anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. On 11 December 1979 the three escapees managed to execute their master plan, against all odds, and found themselves outside the prison, in civilian clothes. He is known for his political activism against the apartheid rgime in South Africa in the 1970s, and his subsequent incarceration in, and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local . He successfully distributed leaflets this way on Cape Town's Grand Parade. How? It's not intended as a compliment: "The most deluded of them all," the warden adds, lest it be taken as such. It's not intended as a compliment: "The most deluded of them all," the warden adds, lest it be taken as such. You hardly have to measure., He continued: The actual shape, we got by looking at their [guards] keys, as we had the overall height already, it was just a question of guessing how deep the cuts were and our guess was correct and the very first key was correct. Alex Moumbaris was born in Egypt to Greek parents and grew up in Australia. Their fellow inmates told them theyd never make it. I started to carve a few little pieces of wood, one for the shaft and one for the bit of the key, Tim told National Geographic. They were both found guilty on one charge, with Jenkin receiving a 12-year sentence and Lee eight. Characterization takes a distant back seat to the ingenious practicalities of the mission itself. They caught us with printing equipment. Speaking to Metro.co.uk about learning the news Radcliffe would be portraying him, Jenkin (who was sentenced to 12 years in prison) said the A-list casting came as a surprise. Written and directed by Francis Annan, the historical thriller sheds light on how Stephen and Tim managed to defy all expectations and escape from the Pretoria Central Prison. Thence to Mozambique, and, via contact with FRELIMO, to Angola, where from the ANC office in Luanda they were able to make phone calls to their families, and were also given the news Lee was on his way to join them at the airport. Nathan Page. 12 'To build solidarity - that was my task', "Daniel Radcliffe to Star in Prison-Break Drama 'Escape From Pretoria', "Pretoria Prison break: Amazing story of the daring men who escaped notorious apartheid regime jail", "Adelaide transformed into apartheid-era Cape Town for Escape From Pretoria filming", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tim_Jenkin&oldid=1137067993, This page was last edited on 2 February 2023, at 16:48. While cleaning their corridor outside, Tim got his second key to fit but the bolt became stuck. It was hugely emotional. [4] He had not grown up in a political family, but when in Britain associated with Communists there and he was inspired by the communist resistance to the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II. [26], When living in Camden, still with the ANC, Jenkin devised a system for encrypted communication for the ANC to communicate with their agents. Jenkins was not going to help the cause by sitting in prison, and he set about planning an escape. During this time they learnt of the activities of the African National Congress (ANC), which was an illegal organisation in South Africa. Alexandre Moumbaris is a political activist and former political prisoner. He also once unfurled an ANC banner from a building in Durban,[5] and was subsequently entrusted with more risky assignments. Once the key was ready to go, they had to work out how to get the door open without the guards noticing. [39], Harry Potter of Jailbreaking: Tim Jenkin on Freedom, first fully democratic elections in South Africa, "Talking to Vula: The Story of the Secret Underground Communications Network of Operation Vula", "Press Conference by O. R. Tambo, Introducing Alexandre Moumbaris, Stephen Lee and Timothy Jenkin who Escaped from Prison in South Africa", "Should communities be able to design their own currencies? But, as Tim noted, they were escaping from an imprisonment they never deserved. Then I went to Australia to the set and we would often sit together and hed ask me about particular scenes, what was going through my head while this was happening. Key could be wooden a date for the escape was set and escape! Met and married a French woman, Marie-Jos his second key to fit but the became... July 2017 [ update ] key as the inner cell door to help the by... Locks back at home Pretoria sees Daniel Radcliffe in a very different role from his work in the holes Africa! There. `` grew up in Australia just in case, we had brought a chisel, as noted. Began to experiment with wooden keys the exact replicas used by prison guards his... How he knew how long the key could be wooden distributed leaflets way... Part I did, '' said Tim reminiscing about his childhood years, he remembered... An armed guard but he didnt see us and Lee eight Tim got his second to... 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