As a movie buff with a deep appreciation for documentaries that delve into complex historical issues, I am deeply intrigued by Tara Moore’s “Legacy: The De-Colonized History of South Africa.” Having grown up between South Africa and the United States myself, I can relate to Moore’s unique perspective on her homeland. Her exploration of the long journey from the colonial era to democracy in South Africa resonates with me on a personal level.
Tara Moore’s film “Legacy: A Reexamined History of South Africa,” which kicks off the 45th Durban International Film Festival on July 18, is an endeavor by the American-residing, native South African actor and director to come to terms with her homeland’s painful past as it marks three decades of democracy.
In simpler terms, Moore’s film delves into the historical journey from colonial times to the establishment of a democratic nation, highlighting how the deep-rooted suppression of Black people’s rights and dreams during this period set the stage for current challenges in realizing our nation’s ideals.
“The director shares with EbMaster that South Africa holds the title of the most unequal nation globally. The intrigue lies in the fact that we have democracy in place. One may wonder, why does inequality still prevail in South Africa, given that all were theoretically made equal by law in ’94? This documentary aims to shed light on this enigma.”
Moore was born in the final years of apartheid in South Africa, a time when interracial marriages were banned under the country’s white-dominated government. In her own words as a debut filmmaker: “I was born during an illegal time, much like Trevor Noah’s book.” Her parents were scholars – her mother, a political scientist of South African Indian heritage, and her father, a Canadian economist. Moore grew up splitting her time between South Africa and the United States, specifically Wesleyan University and Trinity College in Connecticut, where her parents taught.
Right from the beginning, Moore led a nomadic existence. During her growing-up years, her parents, whom she referred to as “explorers” filled with an insatiable desire to travel, would frequently take study breaks at universities situated in various parts of the world. As a result, Moore spent significant portions of her childhood in Singapore and South Korea. In 1994, on the brink of South Africa’s first democratic elections, they accepted temporary teaching positions at Stellenbosch University, a renowned institution located in South Africa’s Afrikaans-speaking region. Not long after, they became captivated by a beautiful flower farm situated in the picturesque wine area and relocated their family from their Connecticut home.
According to Moore, the transition to South Africa felt like stepping into “a different realm, both place and time.” Although South Africa was embracing majority rule, Stellenbosch – a predominantly white town steeped in Afrikaner nationalism – presented a stark contrast to the liberal American college community her family had departed. Moore’s mother was the inaugural black professor at Stellenbosch University, an institution established in 1874 and boasting apartheid architects among its esteemed graduates. Similarly, Moore herself was among the early students of color at her private school.
Despite growing up with relative comfort, her childhood was shaped by encounters highlighting the stark racial divide in South Africa. Once, she remembers, her father handed her a sizable sum to buy strawberries from the local market. The reaction from the locals was one of disbelief and curiosity. “They had never seen a brown child with that much money,” she recalls. On another instance, when Moore and her brother attempted to sell flowers from their driveway, they were accused of theft due to the prejudiced belief that people of our race couldn’t own a farm.
Due to her parents’ occupational commitments, Moore frequently traveled between the U.S. and South Africa during her childhood years. This constant shift between the two countries gave her the sensation of moving through different time periods, she explains, but it also granted her a distinct perspective on how South Africa’s emerging democracy was unfolding. She describes witnessing remarkable transformation during her absences and returning to find significant progress made – a fascinating experience for her as she observed her home country evolve.
The film “Legacy” primarily explores the events leading up to the 1994 elections, which marked Nelson Mandela’s ascension to power and signified the end of almost five decades of white-minority rule under apartheid. It features an abundance of archival footage, as well as insightful interviews with prominent scholars, activists, historians, and political figures, such as Wilhelm Verwoerd, whose grandfather, Hendrik, is known as the “architect of apartheid.” These conversations provide valuable insights into the oppressive colonial- and apartheid-era laws that denied voting rights to over 80% of the population. Furthermore, they shed light on how these policies paved the way for the profound inequality that continues to plague South Africa today.
If “Legacy” resembles “A People’s History of South Africa,” it’s not by chance. Moore spent a great deal of time pondering and introspecting, as she recognized that significant aspects of South Africa’s colonialism and apartheid past were missing from the textbooks she read as a kid. She laments, “I wish I had been taught this history when I was younger.”
Moore ponders over the reality that her old friends from childhood are now influential figures in South Africa, holding key positions and shaping decisions. She points out that while it’s easy to criticize the African National Congress (ANC) for the country’s problems, many fail to recognize that apartheid was the primary cause of South Africa’s struggles in the first place.
“Yes, I agree that this government is corrupt, and I don’t support them. However, I didn’t cause our current situation. They’re not helping us progress or find a solution.”
As a movie lover and an observer of South African politics, I’ve witnessed the significant strides made in democratizing the country over the last three decades. However, it’s important to acknowledge that there is still much work to be done to address the inequities left behind by apartheid. The economic instability, rising crime rates, and political instability that led to the ANC losing its electoral majority for the first time since 1994 are just a few of the challenges we’re facing as we continue our journey out of apartheid’s long shadow. But despite these challenges, I remain optimistic about South Africa’s future.
She expresses that thirty years is a brief period for a country’s development. In 1994, we embarked on our democratic journey, marking the end of apartheid, white supremacy, and racial subjugation. Yet, this was just the start of our nation. The path to democracy had taken centuries, so it is no surprise that undoing centuries of harm will be a lengthy process.
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2024-07-17 00:41