GRAND PRIX COMPETITION

HIS BIG WHITE SELF

UK, 2006, 93 min., English

Director: Nick Broomfield
Producer: Nick Broomfield
Cinematography: Joan Churchill
Editing: Peter Churchill
Production Company: Lafayette Film
Print Source:
Nick Broomfield
Deans Watermill
Ardingly Rd.
Lindfield, West Sussex, RH16 2QY
UK
Tel.: +44 1444 484 510
Fax: +44 1444 484 760
e- mail: nick@nickbroomfield.com
www.nickbroomfield.com


HIS BIG WHITE SELF

From 1991 until 2001 when he finally went to prison, Eugene Terreblanche, aka “The Leader,” and the AWB (the African Nazi party) brought a reign of unimaginable terror to South Africa. Not only did he and his followers plan to assassinate Nelson Mandela, they murdered Mandela’s second in command and ignited over 120 bombs in schools, airports, train and bus stations in an attempt to uphold the Apartheid system. Filmmaker Nick Broomfield previously made a film about The Leader in 1991 which was met with much resistance from Eugene. Broomfield consequently lived through death threats and years of intimidation, yet his experience with The Leader compelled him to return to South Africa for Eugene’s release from prison for one last interview. Does The Leader feel any remorse for the countless people murdered by his organization? Is it true that Eugene found religion and became a poet? Broomfield’s trip resulted in a compelling doc that digs deep into the psyche of one of South Africa’s most brutal tyrants.

Nick Broomfield was born in London, England in 1948. He studied law at Cardiff and political science at the University of Essex, then went on to study film at the National Film School. He has received numerous awards including BAFTA, Prix Italia, Sundance Film Festival, John Grierson Award, Robert Flaherty Award, and others. Broomfield films with a minimum of crew: just himself and one or two cameramen. It gives his works a distinctive style.

Filmography (selected):

Ghosts (2006);
His Big White Self (2006);
Ghosts (2006);
His Big White Self (2006) (TV);
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003);
Biggie and Tupac (2002);
Kurt & Courtney (1998);
Fetishes (1996);
Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam (1995) (TV);
Tracking Down Maggie (1994);
Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a serial Killer (1993);
Too White for Me (1992);
Monster in a Box (1991);
The Leader, His Driver and the Driver’s Wife (1990);
Juvenile Liason 2 (1990);
Diamond Skulls (1989);
Driving Me Crazy (1988).

FRIDAY, MARCH 30 AT 5:00 PM./FACETS CINEMATHEQUE

SATURDAY, MARCH 31 AT 3:00 PM./GALLERY THEATRE

FRIDAY, APRIL 6 AT 9:00 PM./PORTAGE THEATRE