Endgame

2009 1h 49m EN

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 51

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The time is the late '80s, a crucial period in the history of South Africa. President P.W. Botha is hanging on to power by a thread as the African National Congress (ANC) takes up arms against apartheid and the country tumbles toward insurrection. A British mining concern is convinced that their interests would be better served in a stable South Africa and they quietly dispatch Michael Young, their head of public affairs, to open an unofficial dialogue between the bitter rivals. Assembling a reluctant yet brilliant team to pave the way to reconciliation by confronting obstacles that initially seem insurmountable, Young places his trust in ANC leader Thabo Mbeki and Afrikaner philosophy professor Willie Esterhuyse. It is their empathy that will ultimately serve as the catalyst for change by proving more powerful than the terrorist bombs that threaten to disrupt the peaceful dialogue.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

William Hurt
Professor Will Esterhuyse
Chiwetel Ejiofor
President Thabo Mbeki
Jonny Lee Miller
Michael Young
Mark Strong
Dr. Niel Barnard
Clarke Peters
Nelson Mandela
John Kani
Oliver Tambo
Derek Jacobi
Rudolph Agnew
Timothy West
P.W. Botha

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Pete Travis
Writers: Paula Milne, Mark Risk
Languages: Afrikaans, English, Xhosa
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Afrikaans, English, Xhosa.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Pete Travis, shot by David Odd. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Martin Phipps. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Clive Barrett shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

William Hurt and Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jonny Lee Miller carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1217616 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 51 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Pete Travis directs. David Odd behind the camera. Martin Phipps scores. Clive Barrett cuts. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in Afrikaans, English, Xhosa.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 17 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Afrikaans, English, Xhosa.
3Directed by Pete Travis, shot by David Odd. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Martin Phipps. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Clive Barrett shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6William Hurt and Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jonny Lee Miller carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt1217616 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 51 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.