Almost exactly 30 years ago, on May 9, 1994, Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was elected South Africa’s first black president. To mark this occasion, a documentary is being made about the great fighter against apartheid in South Africa. The German production company Beetz Brothers is behind the project, which they now announced in a press release. The two broadcasters ZDF and Arte are also involved.
The “Premium Documentary” (Beetz Brothers) is supposed to be called “Free at Last”. It will be a three-part series with episodes lasting 53 minutes each. There will also be a 90-minute film version of the documentary. The makers promise “unpublished recordings and previously kept secret documents” with which they want to tell the story of the injustice regime of apartheid. Both victims and perpetrators should have their say.
The focus is on the case of COSAS 4. In 1982, four black members of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) were murdered. The alleged perpetrators are currently in court. The case thus links the past with the legacy of apartheid, more than 30 years after its end.
Beetz Brothers is collaborating with the South African production company Storyscope for “Free at Last”. In addition to the European broadcasters ZDF and Arte, SABC from South Africa is also involved.
Directed by Thomas Blom (54) and Misha Wessel. The duo already filmed the documentary “The Hunt for Gaddafi’s Billions” for ZDF and Beetz Brothers, which was nominated for an Emmy among other awards. At her side is the South African Xoliswa Sithole (55) as director. There is no word yet on a broadcast date for “Free at Last”.
