Rent Escape from Pretoria (2020)

An interesting jail-break story in late 1970s Apartheid South Africa - Escape from Pretoria review by Philip in Paradiso

The film is set in South Africa in 1979: it is the - true and amazing - story of 2 white South Africans who were jailed in the central prison, in Pretoria, for having taken part in anti-Apartheid activism in South Africa. With the help of a 3rd inmate in the prison, right from the start, the men decide that they will do all they can to escape. One of them has the idea of replicating the keys used to open doors by the prison guards: the 3 prisoners will make replica keys out of wood, and simply open all the doors of the prison until they are out...

Virtually the entire film is centred on the men's situation in the prison and the repression they are facing from the prison guards, as well as on their plot to escape. The movie is a tense thriller in many ways, within the parameters of the genre. It is an interesting film, with a lot of suspense, and I enjoyed watching it. However, it is not quite as gripping as it could have been: there is something subtle that is missing. Some critics have argued that the film lacks depth. So, it is a good and interesting film, typical of the genre, but no more than that.

Excellent - Escape from Pretoria review by AW

An amazing story (based on true events), brilliantly acted and definitely worth watching. A film we would watch again.

Excellent prison-break drama set in South Africa of 1970s - Escape from Pretoria review by PV

I enjoyed this - it's possibly the best prison-break film I have seen since PAPILLON.

Watch to the end to see what happens to the escapees, and real photos of 2 of them. None of the 3rd and no future story, which makes me wonder if he (French prisoner) was made up by producers. I have no idea.

All filmed in Australia too. Watch the superb music documentary SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN with this and maybe MOFFIE too about conscription of whites into the army.

Of course, this is a complex issue - now South Africa has corrupt elite governments, a surging crime and murder rate, and state racism - against whites. Which is why one third have left that country in the last 30 years.

There are 2 white 'tribes' in SA. The Dutch/Afrikaans Boers who have been there 300 years, often poorer farming folk, deeply religious - they came up with Apartheid and all prison officers here are from that heritage. They cannot leave. Then the more affluent British-heritage whites - they can and many have. It may shock some to realise the whole reason SA is the richest country in Africa is because it had Apartheid and white rule, so avoided the Cold War communism etc and the native tribal disputes/dictators which have ruined so many African states.