Original subtitles

The non -violence that we have advocated for years demands moral courage. We

cannot keep asking people to strike, only to end up defenseless in front of a

firing squad. I propose a campaign of sabotage.

Nelson Mandela, you're under arrest.

The first day of the committee's discussion on the policy of apartheid

also to be the very last day of a trial. The crime that the accused have been

convicted of is by treason.

There is no escape from Robben Island.

Not for any of them. Damn it, Oliver. We should at least consider breaking them

out. My plan was viable. Too many unknowns.

Too risky.

We want them free, of course, but we do not want them dead.

They are vital to the struggle.

But completely cut off from it. Not necessarily, Joe.

We can open lines of communication.

Communicate with heavily guarded prisoners in a fortified cell block on

island five miles off the coast.

We know it can be done.

Fairies come and go every day.

That's true.

That is true.

Supplies, guards, new prisoners we could smuggle messages in.

Yes.

We'll take careful planning, lots of moving parts.

Hypothetic guard, perhaps.

For God's sake, be realistic.

Wait.

What about Mac Maharaj?

One of our MK men. They told him on your trial. Right.

Convicted of sabotage. Poor bastard.

He's definitely on his way to Robben Island.

There.

That is our first mule.

We contact him through his lawyer, Bram Fisher.

Tony Klein privilege.

Mac can relay everything directly to Nelson.

Our new leadership structure.

MK strategy.

Relax, my friend.

You're not in Johannesburg anymore.

Don't fool yourself, Oliver.

Somebody's watching.

CIA, MI5. Let them watch.

We are in London for a reason.

Be that as it may, you just got the Soviets to give the ANC 300 ,000 pounds.

We've got MK operating like a guerrilla army. You can bet that the British and

the Americans see us as the enemy. Let the great powers have their cold war.

We are aligned with no one. And I made it clear to Moscow, the ANC is not an

official communist organization.

Everybody knows I'm a card -carrying member.

Nobody's perfect.

Get in line over there.

That Maharaj, communist, one of mine, looks like he's been tortured.

The government won't relent until every last one of the ANC is destroyed.

This new wave will have it worse than us.

Excellent work.

Looks good.

Go.

Don't forget to look under the bed.

Don't worry. We'll be back tomorrow.

The only way for us to get better treatment is to engage respectfully

with the warden.

Respectfully. Respect for these people.

Nelson, this is a place of resistance, not negotiation.

If we treat them with respect, they will do the same.

Silence in there!

So this is your plan?

To make friends with them out there?

No talking!

You cappers, even your ship stinks worse.

Now, shut up in here!

In brief, the MK, the so -called military wing of the ANC, is virtually a

force.

All the major agitators are out of the picture now.

That Kappa lover Ruth First will be leaving on an exit visa soon.

That's all? Into the arms of that Jew Slobo in London.

These white communists are all the same.

Take away their creature comforts, they break.

What's left of the ANC is riddled with agents and informants. We will break

them. A dangerous assumption, until Mandela and his crew are permanently cut

off. Mandela's on an island.

How much more cut off can he be? We have reliable information that Tamba and

Mandela are still in contact.

Why don't we isolate him from the rest of the prison population, put him in a

different section?

John, the foreign press, and therefore world opinion, has gone very quiet on

Mandela and A &C, and I want nothing to disturb that date of affairs.

Perhaps we can afford a demonstration of magnanimity, John.

We should consider relaxing his conditions.

Don't underestimate this man.

Relax his conditions and in time Mandela will be running not only the ANC, he'll

be running that island.

Inspection!

Silence in the passage.

Good evening, Johan.

How do you know my name?

I asked for your name.

If you say another word... I am not trying to be disrespectful.

I am trying to be civilized.

To make life here better for both of us.

I said silence in the passage!

Good morning.

How was your evening?

Not too bad.

Thank you.

Look,

Walter. Long trousers.

Just you.

Not the others.

I see.

Well, I am the others.

And if they don't get long trousers, I'm afraid neither do I.

Manny sticks to his principles.

You will soon learn, young man, that nothing gives Nelson more satisfaction

the precious principles.

Tell me, Johann, do you have a family?

Yes.

Actually, in a month's time, I'll get to see them in Cape Town.

That sounds very pleasant.

You know, in a month, I will be here with my friend, Walter.

May I make a request for pen and paper?

What for?

To write to the prison authorities requesting long trousers for all

I'll see what I can do.

Thank you.

First there was silence.

Now they discuss their holiday plans with us.

Just you wait, Madiba.

In a short while, we'll be one big happy family.

Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Kavuls.

It's a full house. They're all waiting for you.

After the speech, you have a meeting, one o 'clock, with the Minister of

Defense, and then we'll be placing a call to the United Nations.

That's fine, Chairman.

All in good time. All in good time.

Oh, dear God.

Oh, dear God. Somebody call an ambulance.

Quick.

It's you, Lucas.

You and your progressive party. It's all your fault. We had nothing to do with

this. You incite people.

You want to overthrow this government.

Now we'll get you.

We'll get the lot of you.

This is not good news.

The leader of the oppressor is dead. Why is this not good news?

Political progress is not built on assassination.

Fervut's death will produce one predictable result.

Increased repression.

Nelson, I am tired of your moral superiority.

The architect of Grand Apartheid is dead.

That's the best news we've had in years.

Something we ordinary men have a right to celebrate.

You think that if we celebrate, it will get better for us around here? We are

irrelevant.

The struggle is what, man?

The struggle cannot be written to a personality.

This mustn't all be about...

Nelson Mandela.

Oh, that's what you think I want.

I have made mistakes, yes.

My pride, my simple -minded optimism, my vanity to believe that I could lead an

armed struggle against the apartheid regime.

Foolish, I know.

I am stuck here, on this island.

But I still believe I can change the world.

Because now I understand that I am part of a group of very remarkable men.

I thank God for that.

Without Walter, Ethie, and yet even without you, Goban, I am lost.

Without unity, we are all nothing.

For Woodford's a great man.

Our duty is to fulfill his vision and preserve his legacy.

Yes, Prime Minister.

And it will take a little more resolve than we've shown so far.

Indeed. I suggest we begin by increasing the period of detention from 90 to 180

days without charge.

I didn't know that you were such a moderate, Hendrik.

Yes, sir.

Anything else, boss?

That's all for now, Ellis. Thank you. Thank you, boss.

Hendrik, there's new legislation coming.

The Terrorism Act.

It will give us unlimited power.

I'm also creating a new security branch to exercise those powers.

The Bureau of State Security.

Boss.

Boss. Very nice, Mr. Prime Minister.

I want you to run, boss.

You will oversee both the military and domestic intelligence.

Thank you, Prime Minister.

You will now have good legal authority to do what needs to be done.

What we must do is to continue to eliminate the leadership.

Good afternoon.

How are you? I have some good news for you, Mandela.

And some bad news for everyone.

Winnie is coming.

She's been granted a visit.

When? Tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow?

Yeah.

And the baton?

Von Rensburg is coming.

Yes. Yes,

Walter. If you want to look your best for Winnie tomorrow, try to get some

sleep.

Yes, Walter.

Silence in the passage.

Time's up.

You look well.

I am getting by.

How is your job? Are you enjoying your work?

I have a burning order.

No politics.

I have lost my job.

But I'm spending more time with our friends.

I hope they are supporting you.

When they can.

I am so happy to see you making out so well.

How are the girls?

They are well.

But the security police scare them.

We don't get much sleep at night. No politics. Family matters only.

We are a political family.

No politics.

Have you seen Tembi and the other children?

Tembi just had his 21st birthday.

He has a baby daughter, Ndileka.

Ndileka.

My children have grown up and I have not been there.

I have missed so much.

Do not dwell on that right now.

It is cold in here.

I don't feel the cold anymore.

One minute.

Winnie, there is something I have to say before we finish.

You are my wife.

I love you.

You are the mother of my children.

You support me.

While I am here, that is all I can ask of you.

Those other things, they are not important.

But it is not true about this man and me.

You must be careful.

You are my bride.

Time's up.

You must be Van Rensburg.

You must be Mandela.

Have you told them about your wife yet, Mandela?

Winnie has been named as a correspondent in a divorce case.

Correspondent? What's that, a fancy word for a whore?

Yes, copper.

You'd like to strike me, but you don't have the gut, do you?

Striking you would not require much of anything.

Certainly not courage.

You think you're someone, but you're not.

You're nobody.

You're a cougher, Mandela.

That's all you are.

And you're my prisoner.

to your prisoner.

You are just as much a prisoner on this island as I am, Sergeant.

You talk shit, Mandela.

I can get a transfer off this island anytime I like.

Military intelligence tells us that the number of ANC members in exile is

growing exponentially.

led by Oliver Tambo, whom we suspect is still in communication with Nelson

Mandela. And we've got him in the most isolated prison in South Africa.

The only solution is to put Mandela and all those closest to him in solitary

confinement.

I've wanted Mandela in his own private cage for years.

That would solve so many of our problems.

Yet... Now, as Prime Minister, I have a different vantage point.

World opinion to consider.

Solitary isn't the only way to affect him.

You say he's still getting messages from the outside?

Yeah. When he heard that Prime Minister Fabut was assassinated, he must have

jumped for joy.

So his comrade Tambo is out of reach.

But the Nobel Prize winning president?

His way.

African National Congress President, Chief Albert Lutuli, has died. The Nobel

Peace Prize recipient was killed last night, reportedly when he was struck by

train close to his Natal home, where he was confined for several years while

under a government ban.

However he died, however suspicious the circumstances, at this moment

we should remember Chief Lutuli and celebrate his life.

President of the ANC for nearly a quarter century.

Deeply committed to non -violence in the face of increasing state oppression.

He was a great man and a great chief.

Amen. Amen.

You're right, Nelson.

What you had to admire about Luthuli was

His consistency.

We knew exactly what he stood for.

Then you don't know what I stand for. Is that what you are saying?

No.

I know exactly what you stand for.

Nelson Mandela.

This is how factions begin.

It's civil wars.

You must deal with this, Nelson. I'll try, but at the moment there is

more urgent.

The ANC needs a new president.

Oliver Tambo must put himself forward for election.

And like our friend Govan, Oliver suffers from modesty.

I need to get a message to him as soon as possible.

Charlie, let your sister do that. She has neater handwriting than you. She

doesn't. Come, you better hurry or you'll miss the bus.

Which is already in Trafalgar Square.

Almost ready, Joe.

Kids, take these to the dorm.

Coats and boots on. Let's go.

We finally got a message from Nelson.

I may need a magnifying glass for this.

We have decided you should be the new president of the ANC.

Awarding you this title...

will allow you the status and effectiveness in negotiations and

-making.

Please, Oliver, take steps to this official request to organize an

which I have no doubt will award you the full and independent authority

of President.

Darling Nelson, I thought you'd want to know.

Thank you, Johan.

I can't tell you how bad it feels to know that the woman that you love would

have been better off if she had never met you.

How many days have I been here?

Where are my children?

One of the judges against me.

I demand an answer.

Where are my children?

Major Calamaran said to bring him in the jeep.

Prisoners do not get driven around the island in jeeps.

They walk.

What's so important that this copper has to ride in a car?

Apparently his son has been killed.

Then why didn't you say so?

Mandela!

Here!

Get in the Jeep, Mandela.

Major Caledmon wants to see you.

He's got some good news.

Some very good news.

Sergeant,

you're at bar.

Yes, I am.

We're at war, and bastards win wars.

I'm sorry, Mandela.

But it is my duty to bury my son.

I cannot grant your request.

I can bring you some food No, thank you

You know a Tempe Mandela?

You're dead.

You were killed in a car accident.

Eight years ago, he was wearing a pair of my trousers.

Of course, they were big for him.

Always very particular about his dress.

And then he was wearing clothes too big for him.

You see why now?

His father was never home.

He met me. He met the father.

You remember when he sat behind us in the trial?

Three years ago.

It feels like so much longer.

from the look in his face that he was afraid for me.

So I kept turning around to nod and smile. He would return the nod but not

smile because he thought I was going to be hanged.

He was afraid his father was going to die.

Such was the life I gave to my son.

I was sorry to hear about your son.

Thank you.

Very kind of you to say so.

And I also wanted to say goodbye.

You're being transparent.

I'm leaving the prison service.

I am very sorry to hear that.

Prison service need more men like you.

But if you must go, may I ask a favour?

You know that I'm the sole representative of the Progressive Party

African Parliament.

Are you here to compromise me?

You do work for the Bureau of State Security?

At the moment, I'm not working for anyone.

Are you anti -apartheid?

No.

Then why on earth would you want to help Nelson Mandela?

Because I like him.

Nelson Mandela will speak for us.

Mandela will voice our complaint.

This is so good to see you.

And to see you, Mr. Mandela.

It's been a long time.

Our days are long.

The work, hot, dirty.

We do not think it unreasonable that we should have regular access to hot water

for washing.

And the same food served to all prisoners, colored as well as Africans.

The food is of inadequate quality and quantity to sustain general health, let

alone hard labor.

Okay, broad heading.

Better clothing, including long trousers. Better sanitary conditions,

hot water.

Study privileges, including materials.

Rights to information in newspapers, magazines, books.

Equal and better food. Is that it? One other matter, Helen.

I have not complained about discipline.

Discipline is something that prisoners should accept.

But victimization, persecution,

flagrant injustice.

Those are things that no prisoner should be forced to accept.

Run! Run, you lazy pieces of shit! Run!

I didn't say kaffir!

No, no more running.

I will walk to the quarry, but I will no longer run.

Corporal, run the rest of these kaffirs to the quarry.

Yes, sergeant.

All right.

Prisoners, run!

Kathadra!

Mbeki, all of you, move!

You will all get solitary for this.

All of you!

You will all lose your privileges for a year now. No letters, no visitors.

You will all have your sentences increased.

It would be very difficult for you to increase my life sentence, Sergeant.

And his.

And his.

And his.

Sergeant.

We will no longer run to the quarry, but...

We will walk.

We are awaiting your orders, Sergeant.

You got what you wanted.

I'm being sent away.

I wish you well, Warder Van Rensburg.

I wish you well.

That was one of the worst days, when they told me about his passing, and I

couldn't comfort him.

It is difficult for me to believe that I will never see him again.

The order is so wrong with everything.

A son is not supposed to go before his father.

I read the Bible.

I read the Bible four times, from cover to cover.

I did not know it was possible.

But with all those hours and days and...

I am so sorry that I have been so powerless to help you.

The girls send their love.

I miss them so much.

Are you all right, Zami?

You must not worry.

They can never hit me again.

They've made me stronger.

Love me, my love.

Oh, very pretty.

Welcome.

Adelaide, it's so good to see you.

Every time I visit, you're out. Oh, they keep me so busy at that Whittington

Hospital. My lovely wife is modest.

My darling.

You're getting so big.

Adelaide, put your feet up, my dear. You've earned it. Besides, I'm known to

a master chef amongst other things. My beautiful wife, not very modest.

Or should she be?

Our writings will have a great impact on our cause. If you think my writing is

good, wait till you try my roast potatoes.

She's not lying.

What do you say now, chaps?

Long pants, huh? Go ahead, Govan.

Let's hear it, huh?

Sure, it means admitting nothing straight as you wait.

But at least your legs will be warmer, eh? Okay, okay, okay.

Adiba, you win.

I still disagree with most of your methods, but you're right about one

If we're going to survive on this island, we have to stay united.

I used to be impatient with my tailor if I had to wait three weeks for a suit.

Now I have waited three years.

for a pair of white man's pants could not be happier.

Norma, don't forget the extra chair.

We're expecting another guest. We always put a chair for Uncle now.

Before we serve the food, a prayer.

Dear Lord, we thank you for our many blessings, for family and

friends, and the beautiful Christmas dinner we are about to eat.

And we thank you for watching over our brothers from far away on Robben Island.

Amen.

That's it, huh?

I am starving. You are always starving.