We love a good prison break film, but nothing beats one based on an actual, real-life prison break. In Escape from Pretoria, Daniel Radcliffe stars as Tim Jenkin and Daniel Webber stars as Stephen Lee. In 1978, the two were imprisoned as terrorists for working with Nelson Mandela’s ANC group, fighting against Apartheid in South Africa. This movie tells the daring tale of their escape from federal prison.
Radcliffe has been pretty great in every challenging role he’s taken on since his days as Harry Potter. At this point, we’re willing to give him the benefit of the doubt with any of his films.
Escape From Pretoria is the true story of Tim Jenkin (Daniel Radcliffe) and Stephen Lee (Daniel Webber), young, white South Africans branded “terrorists”, and imprisoned in 1978 for working covert operations for Nelson Mandela’s banned ANC. Incarcerated in Pretoria Maximum Security Prison, they decide to send the apartheid regime a clear message and escape! With breath-taking ingenuity, meticulous surveillance, and wooden keys crafted for 10 steel doors, they make a bid for freedom…Beyond a thrilling will-they-won’t-they-escape, this is the story of an oppressed majority’s struggle, and two ordinary men who stood-up to be counted in the pursuit of equality for all.