Campus News

'Free at Last' Documents End of Apartheid

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2010) — In the final installment of "Have You Heard From Johannesburg" South Africans tell the story of the most important effort in the anti-apartheid campaign of the 1980s: the alliance that brought together freedom fighters in South Africa as never before.

"Free At Last" will be shown at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11, in Kastle Hall, Room 213. Parents, students, alumni, children and community members are welcome to attend. Each film can be viewed individually. Parking is available at Parking Structure No. 2 for the 7 p.m. showing.

The anti-apartheid movement gained unparalleled momentum when three generations of resistance fighters banded together as The United Democratic Front (UDF). Faced with growing international isolation, the apartheid government attempted to win allies and convince the world of the merit of its gradual reforms even as it struggled to suppress open revolt, at times using savage and covert tactics.

The UDF protests climaxed in a fierce campaign of defiance, and internationally, Nelson Mandela became a household name as the movement to free him ignited a worldwide crusade. Caught between an unstoppable internal mass movement and ongoing international pressure, the apartheid regime was finally forced to the negotiating table and at last lifted the decades-long bans on the African National Committee. After twenty-seven years in prison, Mandela was released, sparking a global celebration as he toured the world in thanks.

Academy-Award nominated director of "Have You Heard From Johannesburg," Connie Field, will discuss the end to apartheid after both showings of the final segment of her film. Field will meet with UK film studies faculty and students as well as faculty who have participated in the film series on campus.

Field has worked on numerous dramatic and documentary films as well as independently producing her own work. Her feature documentary, “Freedom on My Mind” (1994) is a history of the civil rights movement in Mississippi. It was nominated for an Academy Award; won the Grand Jury Prize for best documentary at the Sundance Film Festival; and the Best of Northern California, National Educational Film Festival, among other awards.

Field has just completed a new documentary, ¡Salud! (2007), on Cuba’s role in the struggle for global health equality. She is a recipient of the John Grierson Award as most outstanding social documentarian and a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

"Have You Heard from Johannesburg" sheds light on the global citizens’ movement that took on South Africa’s apartheid regime. The seven-part documentary series, produced and directed by Field, chronicles the history of the global anti-apartheid movement that took on South Africa’s well-established apartheid regime and its supporters.

The series spans the world over half a century, beginning with the very first session of the United Nations and ending in 1990 – when, after 27 years in prison, Mandela toured the world as a free man.

Paralleling the film, Program Director Lauren Kientz is teaching a two-credit experiential learning course, A&S 100-049, from Sept. 23-Dec 7.  Kientz's students are blogging about their experiences in her class and with UK's South Africa Initiative as well.

The College of Arts and Sciences is embarking on a year-long exploration of South African culture and history with its South Africa Initiative, themed "Different Lands, Common Ground." This program hopes to engage the Lexington community in crucial global conversations spark an ongoing exchange of ideas and promote awareness of race, human rights and political change.

For those who missed "Have You Heard from Johannesburg" this semester, UK's South Africa Initiative plans to show the film series in the spring.

For more information, contact Kientz at lauren.kientz@uky.edu.