Endgame

Comments

1. michael young and his colleagues helped save south africa from civil war. from inside south africa most of us were sick of the stupidness of apartheid. how could south africans be racists when almost every white south african was grown with a zulu woman and often her family. there were terrible things on both sides and for some of us that has not ended. it has been and is a fight over south africa's economic wealth including michael young's employers. there were however a native people whose land was taken by both white and black and their descendants are not dead nor are they in the anc. we hope that the words of desmond tutu will not come to pass and the land of my wife and children and their ancestors will not enter a new age of darkness.

   Posted by white ant on 10/05/2009 10:26:32

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2. It is overwhelming feeling to see the events culminating to liberation of South Africa and release of Mr Mandela. I congratulate Mr Young initiatives, courage of Mr Mbeki and South African delegations to go through the difficulties and bringing stable situation in South Africa. I am not sure whether the same method and trust can be build between Burmese Military Regime and NLD of Aung San Su Kyi and people of Burma.

   Posted by Ye Win on 09/05/2009 23:29:46

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3. A truly inspiring piece of television, I was left in awe of the entire process it portrayed. Well done to all involved and especially to the real Michael Young, a true visionary.

   Posted by Jo Hill on 09/05/2009 21:27:10

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4. Michael Young is an inspiration .. he took a great personal risk for a "greater good". The guy deserves a knighthood, and nobel peace prize, for his role in bringing the sides together.

   Posted by Rob on 09/05/2009 21:15:34

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5. A GREAT MAN

   Posted by thomas lowe on 06/05/2009 15:07:02

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6. An amazing drama, well crafted. Michael Young is an inspiration to me. Maybe some of the world leaders should take a leaf out of his book... "It takes a big man to be invisible".

   Posted by Bev on 05/05/2009 21:25:58

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7. As a liberal South African who welcomed the new dispensation, I found the film very informative, especially the role that Michael Young played. However, the role of Dr Neil Barnard (Director of National Intelligence) was totally incorrect. Firstly, he wasn`t a smoker, secondly he was not the only force behind discussions both with Mandela and Prof Esterhuizen. Minister Coetzee as minister of justice was the political force behind committed engagement in speaking to Mandela. Dr Barnard as civil servant was a less prominent party to discussions. From the writings of Mandela it is also clear that Barnard was very positive in engaging in talks with the ANC and he was not the cloak and dagger figure portraid in the film. Dr Barnard has been known as a fine university professor in political science with an incredible intellect who gave up an academic career to see South Africa through very difficult times. The images of him staring at cctv monitors watching Mandela was therefore ridiculous. The film also showed F W de Klerk, the successor to Pres P W Botha as hesitant to resume talks with Mandela/the ANC when he became president. The reality was that De Klerk always had a more liberated (verligte) view of the role Mandela/ANC will play in the future of the country. In conclusion a very interesting film. Just a pity how the current leadership of the ANC got rid of Thabo Mbeki as president after the important role he played in the liberation of the country.

   Posted by Pieter Cornelius on 05/05/2009 21:21:31

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8. Endgame was an amazing film. I was riveted by the true story, and felt that Michael Young was a truly great peacemaker. Wonderful performances by all the cast. It has inspired me to fight for justice against other horrible regimes of the world, such as Burma, or, more realistically, to support those who really know how to bring about change in a non-violent way.

   Posted by Jenny Short on 05/05/2009 18:47:25

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9. An exellent production. Michael Young is an unsung hero,and modest. I hope history rewards him for his world changing actions.

   Posted by Sue Crew on 05/05/2009 17:09:03

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10. An excellent production. The producer captured the rising conflict in the police state so well. PW Botha ruling as a dictator surrounded by security service suits - was it for real. Yes. Gripping. SA owes a debt of gratitude to Mr Young and Prof Esterhuyse and of course without Mr Mbeki's vision and trust nothing would have progressed.

    Posted by Paul Tagg on 05/05/2009 13:53:09

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11. Great quote in the film towards the end: 'it takes a big man to be invisible'. The warring parties in Sri Lanka need to realise the subjectivity of their views - and I can only hope that someone like Young takes an interest in achieving long term peace in Sri Lanka!

    Posted by Sen on 05/05/2009 11:26:54

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12. An interesting programme. Michael Young was my boss for a couple of years at a subsidiary on ConsGold. (It was Consolidated Gold Fields, NOT Goldfields, as I would have thought Michael would have pointed out to the producers). While the actor playing Michael has caught many of his characteristics, the portrayal of Rudolph Agnew, the chairman of CGF (a really impressive man IMHO, who was very supportive to me personally) was not well done. It is a pity that the real Mells Park House, near Frome, could not have been used. It is (or was) a much more intimate building than the one in the programme, and very well suited to the meetings that took place there. The food was always superb!

    Posted by Guy Erwood on 05/05/2009 10:35:48

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13. Excellant! We need to get a process such as this going to end the crisis in Sri Lanka. Then again, Sri Lankan govt and the country's President are so barberic that they will not stop enjoying killing of Tamils. Every country in the world and every person in the world with a sense of humanity should call for and force the Sri Lankan government to stop carryout genocide of Tamils

    Posted by Isayasitis on 05/05/2009 10:30:15

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14. Like many others with an interest in South Africa - what a beautiful country - I was fascinated at seeing the dreams and hopes of people realised by communications. Without authentic communications, there can be no understanding of one another or the issues that drive us. It seems to me that we humans HAVE to find our voice to make a difference in the world. Gerry Godley.

    Posted by Gerry Godley on 05/05/2009 10:23:27

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15. I've known and worked with Michael Young since the 80's and it's great to see the pivotal role he played being dramatised so successfully. The film was excellent and, despite knowing the background very well, I found it moving all over again. It was an extraordinary transformation from apartheid to democracy. Well done Michael! The accolades you are receiving are long overdue.

    Posted by John Pank on 05/05/2009 04:40:14

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16. Congratulations on 'Endgame', which has to some extent restored my low opinion of Channel 4 drama after the meretricious nonsense and voyeurism of 'Red Riding'.The difficulities faced by a two-hour dramatisation when it comes to explaining the complexities of such a story, with all the limitations imposed by the need to entertain, must be hard to overcome.Yet this production managed to say something that mattered. This, of course is partly due to the excellent direction and acting, but these alone do not suffice. 'Red Riding' was not without such talent, but in it all moral sense was discarded in favour of sensationalism - a Roman circus for the Big Brother mob. 'Endgame' wrestled with moral choices and showed how these are never simple. It is this awareness which makes the history plays of Shakespeare (hardly a naive sermoniser) so gripping. Recent events in South Africa may encourage cynicism, or despair, but, as the video clips on your website (especially the excellent Human Rights Watch spokeswoman) indicated, there are better responses. Even if the relationship between Mbeki and Esterhuyse is idealised and sentimentalised (and I am not saying that it is), their interaction provided a very effective focus point for the moral debate about what is permitted by way of resisting oppression. Well done and many thanks. Just one small complaint. Whose idea was it to make the gobbets of information at the end barely legible, and then remove them just as one was struggling to make sense of them?

    Posted by Michael Phelan on 05/05/2009 00:27:50

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17. Watching the documentary Endgame, was a reminder to me and many others that good and selfless people like Michael Young do actually exist. Against all the odds and skepticism around at the time, Mr Young was able to sustain one of the most difficult but important political dialogues of our time; and sure enough the reward of hard work and persistence did not disappoint; a new South Africa (rainbow nation) was born. I hope there are still many more Michael Youngs out there because as we speak Zimbabwe, once a bread basket of the Southern African region needs men and women with vision and foresight.

    Posted by Crimson Tazvinzwa on 05/05/2009 00:24:41

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18. i remember the uproar when a large group of afrikaans buisnessmen met the anc in exile in west africa, there was a lot of publicity in the south african press at the time. but these secret behind the scenes meetings was something i never knew about.They took place at a time when the country was in political turmoil and at risk of ending in a blood bath.It was a great docu drama tonight and brought back memories of growing up in cape town in 80,s and appeared very authentic, thanks it was great,look fwd to more.

    Posted by ross milner on 05/05/2009 00:09:11

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19. "It takes a big man to be invisible!" In the name of God, let people throughout the World pray for the invisible men of good intent and laud them when their deeds are made visible.

    Posted by Charles on 04/05/2009 23:56:48

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20. Endgame is a very powerful and inspiring movie. Although I followed the life of Nelson Mendela and was a strong anti-apartheid supporter for years, I did not know anything about the part Michael Young played in the talks that led up to Mendela's release. Listening to Michael Young talk on your video and watching the movie has made me want to express my sincere admiration for him and for his bravery. Thank you for the movie.

    Posted by Diana Plummer on 04/05/2009 23:49:29

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21. The film, 'Endgame', was fascinating and inspired me to go online to follow up - for the first time ever! I found the interview with Michael Young very moving and inspiring. Such incredible modesty for his pivotal role. It is great to be reminded that people like him really exist. Peopel who are willing to take such risks to make a better future. Thank you.

    Posted by Penny Simpson on 04/05/2009 23:41:53

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22. I was in South Africa when Nelson Mandela was sworn in as President and was amazed at the way he steered the country away from civil war.However I did not know the background story. A truly great piece of television. Please God don't let all these brave mens efforts now be laid to waste by the new president Zuma.

    Posted by Jersey Lily on 04/05/2009 23:35:12

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23. A wonderful programme - thank you so much.

    Posted by David Hurford on 04/05/2009 23:27:52

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24. I have just watched the drama Endgame about South Africa, and I enjoyed it enormously and am very grateful to have seen it. Particularly I was moved by the role of Michael Young, so it is wonderful to come to this website and view immediately the interview with the real man. He is so impressive as a human being, a role model for what I call adult behaviour, himself grateful to be part of a world changing process. Wonderful!

    Posted by margaret koolman on 04/05/2009 23:27:02

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25. I left South Africa in 1978, fearful, and went into voluntary exile, for many reasons, most because of the growing tension and confrontation, repression, and the sense of being constantly watched. This film brought it all back to me, and I watched in trepidation, again. Thank you for an excellent film - most of it true, I trust!

    Posted by Carol Barac on 04/05/2009 23:13:28

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26. Hi.What you(Michael Young)did for South Africa was great.Could I please ask if you could now hold meetings again so that the ANC could please stop all the violence and crime? A South African who wants peace in his country for himself,his family and every other South African.

    Posted by sean on 04/05/2009 23:10:06

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27. I have today finished A Long Walk To Freedom By Nelson Mandela, Mandiba, what a great treat to see the drama arrive on television on the same day, on a more serious note ,the program highlighted a story of struggle that needs to be told time and again to show how the construct of dialogue moves the hardest peace processes forward..

    Posted by John Hedman on 04/05/2009 23:10:05

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