Children of the Light (film)

Last updated
Children of the Light
Children of the Light poster.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Dawn Engle
Written byDawn Engle
Cinematography Ivan Suvanjieff
Release date
  • 2014 (2014)
Running time
92 minutes
LanguageEnglish

Children of the Light is a documentary film produced by The PeaceJam Foundation about the life of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. [1] It is the first film to tell the life story of Nobel Prize winner Desmond Tutu, one of the fathers of modern-day South Africa, and features extensive archival footage, family photos and never-before-seen interviews. [2] It premiered at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival on June 8, 2014. [3]

About

Children of the Light combines a sweeping view of South African history with perspective on the life of one of its most influential figures: Desmond Tutu. His story — which has never been covered by a documentary before — began long before an uprising over apartheid policies took place. Born to an uneducated mother, Tutu recalls looking to figures like Americans Jackie Robinson and Cab Calloway as early inspirations in a segregated society where white bullies would chase and attack him every time he went to town.

Troubles began stirring in his country at large when he was 17. With the election of the National Party, a strong division between the white and black peoples of South Africa was created, giving great privileges and rights to whites that were denied to others. In pursuit of his college education, Tutu came to meet Nelson Mandela and his future wife Leah. His first encounter with the country's problems came in his role as a teacher: he refused to participate in discriminatory policies. Soon, he left teaching and was accepted into the priesthood.

Tensions in South Africa continued to escalate, spurred on by the imprisonment of figures like Mandela, the death of Steve Biko, and violent police opposition to the many protests and demonstrations that soon took place regularly. Mass funerals were common gathering points, which Tutu began speaking at in attempts to encourage the people's efforts while keeping their actions non-violent.

Elected as secretary general of the South African Council of Churches, Tutu attempted to bring the problem of apartheid to a larger international audience through economic sanctions; his own government soon attempted to pass a referendum that would exclude blacks from political representation entirely. As the struggle continued, Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

Many years of protests and advocacy, amid increasing restrictions from the government, took place. While Tutu was also given the position of Archbishop for his efforts in 1986, three more years passed before the tide began to turn: new president F.W. de Klerk freed Nelson Mandela and helped end the political authority of apartheid.

This would not be the end of Tutu's activities: Tutu was made chairman of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission at the beginning of Mandela's election, giving those who had felt the previous regime's violence a chance to have their stories heard. He also helped reopen Robben Island, a notorious prison colony where Mandela and others had been kept, and accompanied the first group — a cross-section of South African youth — to take a tour and participate in various service learning activities.

This leads into the film's conclusion: a summary of the community-based projects of four other young people from around the world who met Tutu at the 2010 PeaceJam World Conference. As a leader for social change and champion of human rights, Desmond Tutu's life and efforts continue to be a source of inspiration for peacemakers across the world. [4]

Related Research Articles

F. W. de Klerk South African politician

Frederik Willem de Klerk is a South African politician who served as State President of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and as Deputy President from 1994 to 1996. As South Africa's last head of state from the era of white-minority rule, he and his government dismantled the apartheid system and introduced universal suffrage. Ideologically a conservative and an economic liberal, he led the National Party from 1989 to 1997.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela South African activist and politician

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, also known as Winnie Mandela, was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician, and the second wife of Nelson Mandela. She served as a Member of Parliament from 1994 to 2003, and from 2009 until her death, and was a deputy minister of arts and culture from 1994 to 1996. A member of the African National Congress (ANC) political party, she served on the ANC's National Executive Committee and headed its Women's League. Madikizela-Mandela was known to her supporters as the "Mother of the Nation".

Great South Africans was a South African television series that aired on SABC3 and hosted by Noeleen Maholwana Sangqu and Denis Beckett. In September 2004, thousands of South Africans took part in an informal nationwide poll to determine the "100 Greatest South Africans" of all time. Votes were cast by telephone, SMS, and the website of the state-run South African Broadcasting Corporation television channel, SABC3, which aired a series of profiles and documentaries in the weeks leading up to the announcement of the top 100. The programme was modelled on the BBC's Greatest Britons series.

Trevor Huddleston British Anglican priest

Ernest Urban Trevor Huddleston was an English Anglican bishop. He was the Bishop of Stepney in London before becoming the second Archbishop of the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean. He was best known for his anti-apartheid activism and his book Naught for Your Comfort.

Rainbow nation A term used to describe post-Apartheid South Africa

Rainbow Nation is a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to describe post-apartheid South Africa, after South Africa's first fully democratic election in 1994.

Cape Town peace march

On 13 September 1989, 30 000 Capetonians from a diverse cross-section of the city marched in support of peace and the end of apartheid. The event, led by Mayor Gordon Oliver, Archbishop Tutu, Rev Frank Chikane, Moulana Farid Esack, Allan Boesak, and other religious leaders, was held in defiance of the State of Emergency which banned political protests and apartheid laws which enforced racial segregation. The march resulted in concessions from the apartheid cabinet headed by FW de Klerk, following years of violent clashes between anti-apartheid protestors and the police, and was the first such event to include elected world government functionaries. It was considered the "last illegal march" at the time, and went ahead without major confrontation. The size of the protest, despite the open defiance, and the restrained response from the police signalled the beginning of the transition to democracy.

Desmond Tutu South African churchman, archbishop, and Nobel Prize winner

Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African Anglican cleric and theologian known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was the Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then the Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, in both cases being the first black African to hold the position. Theologically, he sought to fuse ideas from black theology with African theology; politically, he identifies as a socialist.

The Elders (organization) organization founded by Nelson Mandela

The Elders is an international non-governmental organisation of public figures noted as elder statesmen, peace activists, and human rights advocates, who were brought together by Nelson Mandela in 2007. They describe themselves as "independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights". The goal Mandela set for the Elders was to use their "almost 1,000 years of collective experience" to work on solutions for seemingly insurmountable problems such as climate change, HIV/AIDS, and poverty, as well as to "use their political independence to help resolve some of the world's most intractable conflicts".

ProjectExplorer is a documentary short film series. The films, directed and produced by ProjectExplorer's Founder, Jenny M Buccos, focus on histories and cultures of foreign places and people using interviews with subject experts, artists, and public figures including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. John Kani, Greg Marinovich, and Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse. Produced for a child and young adult audience, segments in each series depict everyday life and the challenges and concerns of those living in the locations and regions featured. Each film is 2–4 minutes in length, with each series containing approximately 40 films.

South Africa–United States relations Diplomatic relations between the Republic of South Africa and the United States of America

The United States and South Africa currently maintain bilateral relations with one another. The United States and South Africa have been economically linked to one another since the late 18th century which has continued into the 21st century. U.S. and South Africa relations faced periods of strain throughout the 20th century due to the segregationist, white rule in South Africa, from 1948–1994. Following apartheid in South Africa, the U.S. and South Africa have developed a strategically, politically, and economically beneficial relationship with one another.

Nobelity is a feature documentary which looks at the world's most pressing problems through the eyes of Nobel laureates, including Desmond Tutu, Sir Joseph Rotblat, Ahmed Zewail and Wangari Maathai.

Palestine–South Africa relations Diplomatic relations between Palestine and the Republic of South Africa

South Africa-Palestine relations refer to the interstate relations between the Republic of South Africa and the State of Palestine.

<i>Beyond Right and Wrong</i> 2012 American documentary film directed by Roger Spottiswoode

Beyond Right & Wrong: Stories of Justice and Forgiveness is a 2012 American documentary film about restorative justice and forgiveness. It is directed by Roger Spottiswoode and Lekha Singh and produced by Lekha Singh and Rebecca Chaiklin. The film depicts victims and perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Tutu House

The Tutu House is a house on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa that belongs to Desmond Tutu and his family. The house is registered as part of Johannesburg's historical heritage.

Mandela: The Struggle Is My Life is a documentary co-produced by Sky News and Sky Vision following the life of Nelson Mandela. It contains unique archive footage from Sky News and exclusive interviews with key figures from Mandelas life, including Desmond Tutu, F. W. De Klerk, and members of the ANC who fought with him and were imprisoned with him.

Brian Lisus is a violin maker born in South Africa, who started the first violin making School in South Africa. He is currently teaching in Ojai, California, US, and owns a violin making shop there.

In September 2006, 10 Nobel Peace Laureates and more than 3,000 young people traveled from all over the world to Denver, Colorado, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the PeaceJam Foundation. The 14th Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, President Oscar Arias, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Mairead Maguire, Betty Williams, José Ramos-Horta, Jody Williams, and Shirin Ebadi came together in the largest gathering of Nobel Peace Laureates ever held in U.S. history. They announced plans for a 10-year campaign, now known as the One Billion Acts of Peace campaign, designed to tackle what they perceive as the 10 greatest challenges to the survival of humanity and the well-being of our planet today.

Sir Nicholas Felix Stadlen is a former judge of the High Court of England and Wales. He was appointed to the High Court's Queen's Bench Division on 2 October 2007 and retired early, on 21 April 2013.

On 18 July 1984, Mary Manning, a shop worker in the Henry Street, Dublin (Ireland) outlet of Dunnes Stores, refused to handle the sale of grapefruit from South Africa. Her union, IDATU, had issued directions to its members not to handle South African produce in protest of South African apartheid policies. When Manning and shop steward Karen Gearon continued to refuse to handle South African produce, they were suspended and ten IDATU members working in the store went on strike. The additional striking workers were

Nobel Square Public square in Cape Town, South Africa

Nobel Square is a public square in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront neighborhood of Cape Town, South Africa. It opened in December 2005 and includes sculptures of the country's four Nobel Peace Prize winners, Albert Lutuli, Desmond Tutu, F. W. de Klerk, and Nelson Mandela. The square was the brainchild of Ebrahim Rasool, Premier of Western Cape from 2004 to 2008, and his predecessor Marthinus van Schalkwyk. Supported by the government of the Western Cape, the project was launched after consultations with Lutuli's family and the still-living Prize winners, who attended the unveiling with Lutuli's daughter and the Norwegian Ambassador to South Africa. The statues, slightly taller than the four people depicted, are arranged in a semicircle with their backs to Table Mountain. Quotes of each figure are inscribed on the ground in front of them. A fifth sculpture, entitled "Peace and Democracy," represents the role of women and children in the anti-apartheid movement. All five sculptures are bronze and stand on a 386-m² granite surface. A competition invited ten artists from around South Africa to submit proposals, with Claudette Schreuders's entry inspiring the four sculptures of Nobel winners and Noria Mabasa's idea selected for "Peace and Democracy."

References

  1. "Children of the Light". IMDB. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  2. "Desmond Tutu: Children of the Light". Film Freeway. Film Freeway. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  3. "54th FESTIVAL DE TELEVISION DE MONTE-CARLO TO SCREEN WORLD PREMIERE OF DESMOND TUTU DOCUMENTARY". Festival de Television de Monte-Carlo. June 5, 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  4. "Nobel Legacy Film Series". Children of the Light. Retrieved 15 August 2015.