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.

Ok Prison Drama - Escape from Pretoria review by GI

An interesting, entertaining if fairly routine prison escape drama based on a true story. Daniel Radcliffe stars as Tim Jenkin, who along with a friend, are arrested after detonating a series of 'leaflet' bombs (these basically just blow lots of leaflets into the air) as part of an ANC campaign in late 1970s South Africa. Given harsh prison sentences they meet up with other political prisoners and clever Tim spots that the doors are all controlled by well worn locks and keys and he cleverly manages to replicate them in wood. The film has all the usual tense scenes of the escapees tiptoeing around avoiding the patrolling nighttime guards but unfortunately this tension is watered down by the very title of the film as we know what the end result is. But that aside this is a competently told and well acted drama that is worth checking out.