Windprints (1989) - full transcript
A South African video journalist is sent to neighboring Namibia to do a story on a man who has been going around and killing black laborers. The killer, Nhadiep, has an almost mythical status to both the white farmers and the black laborers with his ability to evade capture in the racially segregated country.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[HELICOPTER APPROACHING]
[BIRDS TWITTERING]
[DOOR SQUEAKING]
[VEHICLE APPROACHING]
[MEN CHATTERING]
[FLIES BUZZING]
[IN AFRIKAANS]
[IN AFRIKAANS]
[GRUNTING]
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
[WHISTLING]How's it?
[SHOUTING]
Seems that stuff I filmed
yesterday attracted
the wrong attention.
Yeah, I know.
And it's bad news, man.
If any of those guys
get arrested
as a result of your film,
you can forget about working
in the townships again.
Hey, I just filmed it.
I didn't make it happen.
You can't just film
anywhere you like.
Those people trusted you.
That's why they allowed you
in there in the first place.
Thozamile,
somebody was killed.
Now what am I supposed to do?
Just stand there and watch?
It's my job to get the story.
Then tell the whole story.
What do those
millions of viewers
across the world see?
Yet another example
of black on black violence.
Now, is that the story
you want to tell?
No, but it happens.
Of course it happens.
But then it happens
for a reason.
And it's your duty
to point that out.
Look, I record what I see
as objectively as possible.
That's easy for you to say.
[SIGHING]You're not the one who's
having his head kicked in.
But then, you're only there
because you're paid.
Oh, don't give me that crap!
The last four years
I've been shot at,
tear-gassed, stoned,
arrested, beaten up.
Welcome to South Africa.
Except I can't go home
to the safety of my white skin
at the end of the day.
Jesus, Thozamile!
What is this?
I care about this country
just as much as you do.
Then wake up, man!
Stop hiding
behind your camera!
Get involved!
You have the power
to tell the real story
about this country.
[PHONE RINGING]Not just
sensational bullshit.
Otherwise, you are
no different from
your Boer brothers
who are causing the shit
in the first place!
[TAPE REWINDING]
[TAPE PLAYING]
[GUNFIRE ON TV]
[PEOPLE SHOUTING]
[PEOPLE CHATTERING ON TAPE]
[CHILD CRYING]
[TALKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
[GUNS FIRING]
You people,
let's get out now
very quickly, okay?
Because you people
are the fucking cause
of this now.
Uh, we're not
the cause of this.
POLICEMAN:
Man, don't... Don't come
and talk shit to me now.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
The police were in here
this afternoon.
They want to know
what the hell
happened out there.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]What did you tell them?
Oh, I bought us some time.
You have to leave town
while I do some
fancy footwork and placate
some ruffled feathers.
And save both our asses.
God knows I've done it before.
I'm sending you to Namibia
for a couple of days.
Charles Rutherford
is looking for a cameraman.
What? You must be joking!
That old soak
hasn't seen any real action
since the war in Zimbabwe.
Listen, he may not
be your style,
but he survived
20 years in this business.
CHARLES RUTHERFORD:
Eighteen months ago,
Nhadiep killed
his first victim
in this dusty
sheep farming area
of South West Africa.
Today, he struck again,
killing two farm laborers.
He only seems to go
for his own tribespeople.Between these attacks,
Yeah.he's left a trail
of devastation
with five dead
and scores maimed
and wounded.
The local police have mounted
an extensive hunt for Nhadiep
over the past two years,
or how he selects his targets.
But this elusive renegade
has become so good
at avoiding capture
that he's become
something of a legend
amongst his own people.
The Nama.
Charles Rutherford,
VisCom News, Namibia.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[STATIC CRACKLING ON RADIO]
[SCANNING RADIO]
MAN ON RADIO:
Seven-ninety-five.
WOMAN: So you're not joking.
[RADIO CHANNEL CHANGES]
[MAN SINGING]
[RADIO CLICKS OFF]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
HELMUT: Hey, who's this?
Hi, Sarge!
How's it?
[PLATVOET SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
Oh, keeping well,
are you?
[LAUGHING]Oh, terrible, man, terrible.
Yes, Charlie?
It's a bit hot today, huh?
What are you doing here?
Local air traffic controller
as well, now?
No, just checking up on you.
You know you can
never trust an Englishman.
So I hear that
new boytjie of yours
is filming riots and stuff
in Soweto, eh?
Must be interesting.
I'd like to hear
some of his stories.
Bit of a sensitive subject
right now. I wouldn't
mention it if I were you.
This is meant to be
a break for him.
[LAUGHING]
Ja,Prince Charlie.
It's good to sweat.
Maybe it'll make
a man out of him.
Hello, Anton. Welcome.
Long time no see.Hi.
Hello, hello, hello there.
Helmut Schadeberg.Right, hello.
Sergeant du Plessis.
But call me Platvoet.
Welcome to South West.
Anton van Heerden.An Afrikaner?
I was beginning to believe
all newsmen were
a bunch of foreigners.
I hear you were checking out
Kaffirs knocking each other up
in Soweto?
Uh, Charlie here said
I should ask you.
This, believe it or not,
is the local
expert on Nhadiep.
Little wonder that
they haven't been able
to catch him.
[CHUCKLING]Don't you believe
a word he says, Anton.
This is Joey,
who's our guide.
And interpreter
when he's not
drunk as a skunk.
Hi, Joey.He'll do anything you ask,
except work.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Ah, I must get going.
Listen,
if you have any trouble
with this Englishman
just call me.
[CHUCKLING]
Bye, guys.
Anton, you see
all these farms here?
Because of Nhadiep.
We just can't find
Namas to work
on these farms anymore.
They're too scared of Nhadiep.
And, you know, without boys
nothing is possible.
What interests me
is that the Nama
believe that he's magical.
He's indestructible.
Believe that he can
change himself into a rock
or the wind.
Anything he likes.
HELMUT: Yeah.
But to them,
anyone who can run away from
the white man for so long
[LAUGHING]must be a magician.
Tell me, have you been
to South West before?
Namibia!
Uh, Namibia, um...
Call it what you like.
The Bushmen call it,
[CHUCKLING]"the land God created
in a temper."
What the Bushmen meant
was "The arsehole
of the universe."
HELMUT: Is that why you're
passing through it,
hey, Charles, eh?
[LAUGHING]
Oh, Charles,
you're just jealous
because you haven't got
a desert in England, eh?
[LAUGHING]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
HELMUT: All right? Yeah.
Karen.
Karen!
Well, here we are.
Nhadiep country.
[INSECTS BUZZING]
Hang on.
Karen!
Karen!
[MEOWING]
My mother's coming.
[CAT MEOWS]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Oh, Ma.
[CAT MEOWS]
And where do you think
you're going?
Missis?
Round the back, man!
They pretend
they're so stupid.
Believe me,
they know bloody well.
[CAT MEOWING]
Ah, well, here we are.
Nothing fancy.Ah.
This is fine.
Uh, now, if you need
anything else,
you just speak to my wife.
She runs the place.
[CHUCKLING]I only look after the bar.
Okay.Thank you.
[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
[ROOSTER CROWING]Hello.
Morning, Joey.
JOEY: Hello, boss.
Tell me, Joey,
do you know Nhadiep?
I never met him, boss.
Joey, do me a favor.
Please don't call me "boss."
Do you believe he has magic?
Sorry, boss?
Well, do you believe
he can fly with the wind?
Change into things.
Stuff like that?
They tell me so, boss.
Do you think
they're going
to catch him?
Who can catch him?
Nobody.
He's like a rabbit.
He runs here, he runs there.
Nobody can catch him.
You can't catch the wind.
Never. Never.
[BIRD CHIRPING]
MARIE: It's not that I believe
all those stories that
the Namas say about Nhadiep,
that he can turn himself
into a stone
or a bird or whatever.
But take the night
he shot Klaus.
That's the--the Nama
that worked for us
for 22 years.
My husband was in town
with the police.
Somebody had heard
that they'd seen Nhadiep
in town.
And that same night,
Nhadiep shot Klaus
right here on the farm,
while my husband
was in town looking for him.
And how do you explain that?
My husband says...
You mustn't put this on TV.
My husband says
the Namas are so lazy that
if they don't want to work
they'll see Nhadiep
everywhere.
[LAUGHING]
No, please, go on.
But it's, um...
It's getting very hard for us.
You know, um,
I suppose it's because
even though you know
it's a lot of nonsense,
you start believing
those stories yourself
about Nhadiep.
Um...
The whole time
you get this feeling that...
That he's watching you.
I'm... I get worried
about my husband
going into the mountains.
I always think that
Nhadiep is going to shoot him.
Not that
he's ever shot a white.
I just wish they'd hurry up
and find him, because
it gets on my nerves,
I don't...
I mean, otherwise I don't know
what's going to happen to us.
[SOBBING]
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING]
[LAUGHING]
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
OTTO: You want to know
about this bloody Nhadiep?
I'll tell you,
he's nothing
but a rapist, man,
a sex maniac.
You know, I reckon he'll
kill anybody just for
the bloody hell of it.
We used to always say,
just let the terrorists
come down here to the south
and we will sort them out, eh.
But now, here's this madman
going around killing people
and we can't do a thing,
hey, Sarge?
One hotnot with a gun
and he's got to get
the army in to get us out.
ROOTMAN: No, he's got
to make a mistake.
Then we'll get him.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]I can tell you that much.
When?Right now!
ROOTMAN: We'll get him.
Don't you worry.
[PEOPLE LAUGHING]
[SIGHS]
HELMUT: No, don't, don't,
don't, don't, don't.
Don't, please.
Helmut.
[WHISTLING]
CHARLES: Come on, Anton...ANTON: Oh no, no, no...
[LAUGHING]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[GRUNTING]
[ROOSTER CROWING]
[BABY CRYING]
[BABOON SCREECHING]
[BABY CRYING]
[RADIO CHATTERING]
[IN AFRIKAANS]
[ROOSTER CROWING]
[PEOPLE SINGING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[SINGING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Morning.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[SINGING]
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
JOEY: Morning, boss.
Morning, Joey.
You looking for me,
boss?No.
Is this your family?This is my sister's family.
This is my mother's sister.
[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]Hello.
And this is my sister.
[PEOPLE APPLAUDING]
[NEIGHING]
[ACCORDION MUSIC PLAYING]
KLAUS: Oh, Charles.
Well, hello there.
Welcome, welcome.
Glad you could make it.
CHARLES: Well, happy birthday,
Marianne.Thank you.
Do come in.
Come and join the party.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[SHOUTING IN AFRIKAANS]
ROOTMAN: Charles, Anton...
[ALL LAUGHING]And, uh, how's your head
this morning, mate?
Charles, let me introduce you
to our local Member
of Parliament, Meinert.
How do you do?So, you're making
a film about Nhadiep.
If the man exists.
I'm beginning
to have my doubts.
And this is his cameraman,
Anton van Heerden.
Pleased to meet you.
Thank you.Welcome. Welcome.
Sorry, uh,
this is Henning.
CHARLES: Charming.KLAUS: Don't worry about him.
This business of Nhadiep
is a very touchy subject
around here.
Man, he's just being
bloody difficult.
Well, that may be so,
but I reckon he's got
a lot of sense, you know.
While the rest of the farmers
are selling up,
he's busy buying.
Anyway, a drink.Yeah.
You see, you have these,
uh, people of the media
going around saying
Nhadiep is
a victim of apartheid.
Complete nonsense.
It--it just isn't the case,
you see, listen...
It's over there, okay?Yeah.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[LAUGHING]
You know,
you guys must come
and film on my farm.
Nhadiep shot one of
my shepherds there last year.
And now I can't get boys
to work there anymore.
You know, I stopped
counting, but I...
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
I'm afraid
my Afrikaans is very bad.
Look, that Kaffir
has cost us more
than the whole drought.
Now, you want to make
a bloody film about him.
Well, the film
is actually about
the manhunt...
Wouldn't you
rather make a film about
your own people?
Us. The farmers.
Or, aren't you interested
in your own people anymore?
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Those whites that wanted
to go, they've gone long ago.
And those that wanted
to stay, like me,
[STUTTERING] we're here.
We're accepting the situation
as it is, right now.
I mean, we--we can't just
up and leave and run off
to South Africa.
There we don't know
who's who.
Who are we chasing?
ROOTMAN:
Nhadiep's been shooting
at Henning's farm. Let's go.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
[MAN CHATTERING ON RADIO]
[ALL CHATTERING IN AFRIKAANS]
Gone with the wind again.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[ENGINE STARTING]
[SIREN WAILING]
It's amazing nobody
was killed in here.
Pieterse, Namibian Herald,
how's it?
Anton van Heerden,
VisCom News.Hi.
It's all because of that baby
that this has happened,
you know.
What?
That woman out there
with the kid.
Who do you think
is the father?
Go and ask the big white boss
what happened here.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
What the hell do you
think you're doing?
Get on, get off!
This is private property.
No one asked you
to film here.What's going on here?
Come on, get off my farm,
you vultures.
Come on, you've got
no business here.
Take it easy.Get off!
Come on, Anton.
[BABY CRYING]
Oh, for Christ's sake.
Get in!
[GUN FIRING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]Okay.
Joey!
[TWIGS SNAPPING]
[LAUGHING]
Nothing better than
a lekker boskak.
Once he gets
into the mountains
you can forget about it.
Do you think
he's still around?
Don't worry about Nhadiep.
He doesn't kill whites.
He's just killing
his own people.
He could have killed me
a long time ago
if he wanted to.
Many times.
Nhadiep!
I'll get you!
[LAUGHING]
All these helicopters
and fancy night vision
and what have you...
Doesn't help you. Nothing.
If you really want
to catch this guy,
you'll have to do it
with a bit of luck.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
He's laughing at them.
You must know him
quite well by now.Hell, man,
I've thought more about him
over the last 18 months
than I've thought
about my own wife.
You know, you feel so small
when you've come back
after weeks in the mountains
people point at you
and they say,
"You too stupid
to catch him, eh?"
You know, often
I'd find his tracks.
And he'd been watching me
the whole time.
He's a clever little hotnot.
Did you know he can write?
Was... Only was in school
for two years.
But he writes
poems and that.
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
[PANTING]
[BLEATING]
NHADIEP: "Just inside,
full of surprise
"And then, suspicion
"Reach, stand still
"Reassure me, please
"Just beginning
Still beginning"
Probably not the right time
to tell you, old cock,
but the water here
is not unrelated
to the stuff that they flush
down the lavatory.
If I were you
I'd stick to the beer.
[SPITTING]
So,
what do you think?
This half-beast, half-man
will-o'-the-wisp
legend of the South,
it seems he also writes.
Though I'd hardly
call him Byron.
Ah, give him a break.
He only spent
two years at school.
But then Byron
didn't run with the wind
and fly with the clouds.
Do you think
he's politically motivated?God, no.
No leader of man.
Far too individual for that.
There's integrity
in what he does.
A sense of Adam
imbued with primitive,
original rage.
Oh, I think I would have
enjoyed hanging out with him
in the '60s.
[LAUGHING]
"When freedom is outlawed,
"only the outlaws
will be free."
Nhadiep is a classic outlaw.
Frankly, I think the Namas
just love his ability
to avoid capture.
I'm famished. You coming?Yeah, I won't be long.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
Thank you.
NURSE: This way.
Granddad. Come,
the TV is here.
Do up your shirt man!
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Sit up.
There you go.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Shame. He has a headache.
But he's tough.
He'll get better quickly.
[NURSE SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
He says
he didn't do anything
to upset Nhadiep.
He doesn't know
why he shot him.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
He's still a bit confused.
Maybe you should
speak to Jantjie.
Or Ouboet.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[PEOPLE LAUGHING]
CHARLES: Are they both
victims of Nhadiep?
Yes, and there are some more
in the ladies' ward.
Charles, let's just
get a shot of him.
Forget the interview.
Oh, fine, okay.
That's fine.
Don't worry about this.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
What?
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Charles, he said something
about the woman on the farm
being Nhadiep's woman.
Hannes, is that his child?
Oh, come on, for Christ's
sake, get the shot before
he falls to pieces completely.
Perhaps
we can get to Nhadiep
through her.
Oh, be sensible. He's not
going to waste his time
with women and children.
Well, we've screwed that one.
So, who's next?
PIETERSE: This is what
the government set aside
as a farming reserve
for the Nama.
Can you believe it?
CHARLES: How could you
possibly farm here?
It gives new meaning
to getting blood
out of a stone.
Yeah, the Nama used to rule
the whole of Southern Namibia,
man, now they got this.
CHARLES: Unbelievable.
Which one's
Nhadiep's father?
You okay?ANTON: Yep.
Rolling.
In a country
with such a diversity
of people and culture
and after
nearly a century
of colonial rule,
Nhadiep has become
everyman's legend.
A murderer, a liberator,
mystic, a hero.
And though his real motives
remain a mystery,
to many he has come
to personify the lost freedom
of the Nama
whose territory this was
before the imposition
of German rule
and the historical successor,
South Africa.
Cut.
Right then, here we are.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
You got it?Cheers.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]Yes, here's to Nhadiep.
Long may he live.
Though I doubt it.
Why?
Because he's got no guilt.
Whereas a common criminal
may well surrender,
go quietly.
Not Nhadiep.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
What?
Because maybe
he's just a madman
with a gun,
going around killing people
for the hell of it.
And here we are turning him
into some kind of legend.
Well, who cares?
So long as
his acts of violence threaten
the very basis of society,
there's still hope
for change.
Ma!
What?
He may not come in here.
There is a bar for coloreds
in the back.
Oh, for God's sake.
Hello.
Ma!
Time to leave, chaps.
He can't drink in here.
Look, he's a friend of mine.
I don't care if it is
the State President's friend.
They've got their own bar.
Come!
Can you give me a ride?
Of course.
Sorry about that.
Don't let it bother you.
I should have realized.
KAREN: Come and look here,
Charles.
Look.
And I'm telling you now
in plain English,
no Kaffirs and hotnots
in here.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
And I don't care
what people say.
Extraordinary.
The English language
will never be the same.
Where are you going?
Back to my fellow lepers.
Ah.Are you coming?
No, I'll stay here,
keep the peace.
Fuck her.
I'd rather not,
thank you.
Hey.
What are you doing?Sorry.
Sorry.
[URINATING]
[HONKS]
Ma!
[HONKING]
[DOG BARKING]
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
You sure I'm allowed in here?
Maybe it's my turn
to get kicked out.
You should be so lucky.
No, they're just grateful
that a white man should bother
to come in here
in the first place.
What are you gonna have?Oh, this is on me.
I owe you one.
[WHISTLING] Andy,
two cold ones, bro.
Why are there no Namas
in here?
Well, nothing's stopping them,
but apartheid is
a contagious disease.
Monkey see, monkey do.
See, us colored people,
we're far too in
with the whites
to mix with Namas.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Listen, you guys better
be careful about
over-romanticizing Nhadiep.
Don't forget one thing.
He kills Namas, not whites.
Some people around here,
I guess they like that.
What do you mean?
Do you really think
Nhadiep could get this far
without protection
from the whites?
How do you think
he manages to disappear
every time they're hunting
for him without a trace?
Where does he get
his guns from, his bullets?
Well, he steals them,
obviously.
And what about the girlfriend
on the farm, hmm?
And do you know that Nhadiep
sends his grandfather money
at the end of every month?
What about that?
What are you saying?
I'm saying that maybe somebody
is paying Nhadiep a salary.
What, to kill Namas?
Listen,
bushman hunting used to
be a sport around here
not so long ago.
The only difference is now
they've hired a black man
to do it for them.
Who's gonna pay him?
Oh, you guys, man,
you're walking around here
in a daydream.
Look, all I'm gonna say is
that there are some people,
white people, who are
buying up these farms
very cheap now
thanks to Nhadiep.
That makes Nhadiep
into a mercenary.
With both hands
in the cookie jar.
But, please, don't let
these little details spoil
your movie, huh?
Yeah, I used to believe
in Nhadiep's power
and his magic.
Once.
Excuse me.
Very good shot.
Come on.
I saw what you were
doing there.
You and that colored man.
Ow!
Oops.
That wasn't funny, stupid.
Thought you were ready.
Come on, old cock, cheer up.
Nobody really knows
anything about Nhadiep,
not even his own family.
Everybody seems to be
making up willy-nilly
as they go along.
Including you?
Including me.
Well, maybe it is true.
Maybe Nhadiep is just
a mercenary.
Why not?
God knows it won't be
the first time
this sick society
has created a monster
like that.
Come on, show me
a country that hasn't had
its own share of violence.
And believe me,
I've seen most of them.
All this because some bastard
wants to buy farms cheaply.
Henning.
Oh, forget it.
Of course, Charles.
Who else is buying up farms
around here?
And why was he so keen
to get us away from his farm?
Because he allows Nhadiep
to hide there, that's why.
And that explains the woman.
Well, put two
and two together.
Hang on, you don't even
know for sure that
she's Nhadiep's girl.
Well, maybe Nhadiep's
been blackmailed.
The baby.
Henning's using the baby
to get Nhadiep
to do those things.
Anton, the baby's only
about six months old.
Nhadiep's been killing
for nearly two years.
Well,
everyone else is making up
their version of him.
[CHARLES LAUGHING]
Can I help?
Hello.
We're the film crew.
I called you
a few days ago.
Ah, yes. Hello.
Come to film
our little ceremony?
Well, yes, and to see
if you've changed your mind
about giving an interview
on Nhadiep.
We've read some
of his writings and we find it
very hard to believe
that he was at school
for such a short time.
Yes, well, we must remember
that he was 12
when he started.
But he was a bright boy,
definitely.
What was he like?
Very quiet.
Though he had
a terrible temper.
He used to bite
the other boys sometimes.
But can I offer you a drink?
Oh, that would be lovely.Sit, please, sit.
Thank you.
I'm sure our gallant warriors
won't miss a few.
Why does he attack
only his own people?
You know much about
the Nama people, Mr...
Van Heerden, Anton.
And no, not much.
The Namas are a proud people,
Mr. Van Heerden.
I suspect Nhadiep finds it
very hard to accept
what's happened
to his people
over the years.
Their humiliation,
subservience.
So, he hits out
at his own people.
I suppose it's like hitting
somebody you love
when it's yourself
you feel angry with.
I was told he was being paid
to kill Namas.
You hear so many stories
these days, Mr. Van Heerden,
that you hardly know
which one to believe.
Well, what about...
What about
the woman and baby
on Henning's farm?
We were there after
the last shooting.
Marta?
You know about her?
Yeah,
this business about the baby
must have broken his heart
into a thousand pieces.
Poor man.
What business?
Look, as I've said,
you don't know what to believe
any longer.
But you must excuse me now,
please.
If our warriors don't get
their drinks soon,
I'll have a real war
on my hands.
The interview?
No, no, no, please,
later perhaps.
But, good luck
with your film.
Maybe it will really put
this place on the map
for a change.
CHARLES: [CHUCKLING]
Yes, maybe.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
MAN ON MEGAPHONE:
Remember our great leader
who tried to unite
the people of Namibia
against the foreign occupation
of our land.
Remember also those
who died for our country.
We greet them
with the following words,
"We salute you
and all our forefathers
"who bravely resisted
colonial rule
"and died for the liberation
of our country.
"We know that
the struggle will be long
"and that some will fall
by the wayside.
"But we, the younger
generation, promise today,
after 100 years,
"that we will continue
with the struggle
"until the bells
of independent Namibia
are rung one day."
[GUNS FIRING]
[PEOPLE EXCLAIMING]
[PEOPLE SCREAMING]
[BRASS BAND PLAYING]
[WOMAN SHOUTS]
[CHEERING]
Great stuff, this, eh?
The more the day wears on,
the more difficult it becomes
to tell the difference
between the Germans
and the Namas.
Yeah, and the more
history gets rewritten.
Why not?
History is what you make it,
my friend.
I see that Charles
has found
some soul mates.
Real colonial relics,
that bunch, man.
[PLAYING AFRICAN POP MUSIC]
CHARLES: I don't like this.
Henning might leave
the pageant early.
ANTON:
Don't worry. We're white,
we're protected.
What? Last time
he nearly shot us.
Look, I just want
to ask somebody
if that's Nhadiep's baby.
[BIRDS TRILLING]
Come back here!
[HORN HONKING]
He's not here.
Thank you very much.
Get in!
ANTON: We're onto
something here, Charles.
CHARLES:
You can't just barge
into people's houses.
Okay, relax.
No harm done.
He could have arrived
while you were in there,
for Christ's sake!
Then I would've asked him
what the hell's going on.
Charles!
If Marta is Nhadiep's lover,
and that's his child,
we can prove Henning's
using him.
Why did he try and kill her?
I don't know.
Let's go and find out.
Nobody is going to hire
a hitman so they can buy
a couple of farms cheaply.
It's suicide.
[WATER RUNNING]
You've made no effort to get
Nhadiep's side of the story.
Nothing.
Now, if you want to
understand this country,
you'd better get to
the heart of the story.
I can't afford
to hide behind ethics
and search warrants.
What I report is more
than news, Charles.
It's my life,
it's my future.
How you deal with your guilt
is your business.
But at this minute
you're working for me
and I expect
at least some pretense
of objectivity.
Your problem is
that you avoid the truth.
It upsets your comfortable
little movies.
The truth?
What do you mean
by the truth?
Your determination
to hold Henning responsible
for Nhadiep
not turning out the way
that you want him to
seems a very curious
perception of the truth to me,
if you don't mind me
saying so.
I don't know, Charles.
I live here, you don't.
NHADIEP: "Nothing
"Nothing matters
"My body, nothing
"Departed to death
"In you I saw
an excellent wife
"But there was something
wrong with you spiritually
"Now I shall see that things
turn out as I want them
"Now I shall see that things
turn out as I want them"
Thanks.
[SNORTING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Could I speak
to your daughter,
please?
[IN AFRIKAANS]
I understand.
I won't be long.
Thank you.
[BABY COOING]
Marta?
[MARTA SPEAKING AFRIKAANS]
Please don't be frightened.
I just want to talk to you
about Nhadiep
and the baby.
Get away from that baby!
[BABY CRYING]
[BABOON SCREECHING]
What are you doing here,
Van Heerden?
I told you.
We're doing a film on Nhadiep.
Yeah, so what do you want
from my people?
What have these Kaffirs
been telling you?
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
They haven't told me anything.
[MARTA SCREAMING]
What are you doing?
Are you crazy?
Yeah, Van Heerden,
I'm crazy.
I suppose they told you
that I paid Nhadiep
to kill all those Kaffirs.
You're gonna kill him!
Bleeding lies!
All bloody lies!
He was killing long before
I bought those farms.
Look, I came here
because I thought
she might be Nhadiep's woman.
No other reason.
He wishes.
He's too busy believing
that story that he's a hero
or something.
But, here on my farm,
he's only another hotnot.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
So you are hiding him here.
I wasn't hiding him.
I mean, nobody tells Nhadiep
what to do.
But you allow him
to stay here.
To make sure he's not caught.
Maybe I didn't see him.
I mean, how must I know
what my Kaffirs
are getting up to?
And meanwhile
you're just buying up farms.
You newspeople...
You know fuck all!
Why don't you...
Why don't you fuck off
back to Soweto,
that's where you belong.
You're not one of us anymore!
[MARTA SCREAMING]
[BABY CRYING]
[GRUNTING]
[BABOON SCREECHING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[GROANS]
Watch it!
[GRUNTS]
Nhadiep! Stop!
[YELLING IN AFRIKAANS]
[PLATVOET SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[PLATVOET IN AFRIKAANS]
Damn it!
[YELLING IN AFRIKAANS]
[GUN FIRING]
CHARLES: Anton!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
PLATVOET: Nhadiep!
[GUN FIRES]
[PLATVOET YELLING]
[GUN FIRES]Where the hell are you going,
you...
[PANTING]
Platvoet...
[IN AFRIKAANS]
[LAUGHING]
Yeah, Nhadiep,
just you and me,
till the end, eh?
[LAUGHING]
[GUN FIRES]
Fuck you!
[LAUGHING]
Get away from there,
Van Heerden.
PLATVOET: I said get away!
[HONKING]
[PEOPLE YELLING]
PLATVOET: Go on.
Go on.
Keep off, keep off,
keep off. Go on.
[PLATVOET SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
Hey, Platvoet!
[POLICEMAN SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
[IN AFRIKAANS]
Right, let's see,
let's see if you got
the right man here.
[ALL CLAMORING]
All right?
You do it.
MAN: Go, go, go, go.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
Get out! Get out! Out, out!
PIETERSE: Anton,
are you okay?
Hey, what happened
out there, man?
CHARLES: Joey,
what are they saying?
Come on, man, wake up.
She is saying,
"Where is his face?"
What?Nhadiep has been shot
in the face, Charles.
She's saying that
if it's Nhadiep, then
where is his face?
PIETERSE: See, some people
don't believe it's Nhadiep.
They think someone else
has been shot
to try and trick them
into going back
on to the farms.
Oh, give me a break.
[MEN CHATTERING]
OFFICER: Sergeant.
Fuck you, Henning.
[BRASS BAND PLAYING]
Many people have asked
what prayers can be spoken
at the grave of such a man.
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
Friends,
Nhadiep is today being
buried as a black man.
Not because he killed
[TRANSLATING IN AFRIKAANS]or he stole or hurt.
But in recognition
of the resistance he gave
to the colonizers of our land.
For reminding us
of our strength,
our spirit
our glorious past.
Let us sing.
[ALL SINGING IN AFRIKAANS]
I'm going back
to Henning's farm.
Anton!
I have to go, Charles.What the hell for?
To find Marta and the baby.
Why aren't they here?
And Gerrit.What do you mean?
I think they're in danger.
Maybe Nhadiep stole
that pistol,
but maybe Henning
gave it to him.
The only people
who know are those two.
Anton, leave that
to the police.
I can't. Not now,
not after this.
If it wasn't for me,
Nhadiep might still be alive.
No, no, no, no,
that was inevitable.
Please drop it.
That's exactly what Henning
expects me to do.
That's why people like him
have power in this country.
[ENGINE STARTS]
Don't expect me
to come with you.
I don't.
God, you angst-ridden Boers
can be a pain in the arse.
I'm not a Boer.
I'm an Afrikaner.
Well, if you have to go, go.
But for God's sake,
watch your back. I don't want
to attend another funeral.
Go on, then.
[FLIES BUZZING]
[IN AFRIKAANS]
[BIRDS TWITTERING]
What's it, Mummy?
You're in shit, Van Heerden!
What do you want here?
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Where is Marta?
Don't worry about my people.
I do with them what I like.
Same as I did with Nhadiep.
You used him.What?
You fucking used him.Jesus.
You know nothing about him.
I brought him
out of the mountains.
I showed them he's no good.
The Namas think
he's powerful but I proved
he's a real person.
None of this magic business.
But then he mustn't fuck
with me.
I tamed him
and I fucking broke him.
Stay where you are.
Are you gonna shoot me?
Why don't you fight me
like a true Afrikaner?
[YELLING]
[GROANS]
[LAUGHING]
HENNING: Come on!
[GROANING]
HENNING: Stand up!
[PANTING]
What do you want from me?
What did I do to you?
You don't understand.
He came to me because...
Oh, fuck it.
I tried to stop this thing.
I understood him.
They think
he's something great.
But he's nothing.
That's the problem.
I let him stay to show
he's just a hotnot.
Problem is now
he can be anything.
Even magic.
Why do we fight?
We Afrikaners
must stick together.
[GUN FIRES]
[GUN FIRES]
[HELICOPTER APPROACHING]
[BIRDS TWITTERING]
[DOOR SQUEAKING]
[VEHICLE APPROACHING]
[MEN CHATTERING]
[FLIES BUZZING]
[IN AFRIKAANS]
[IN AFRIKAANS]
[GRUNTING]
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
[WHISTLING]How's it?
[SHOUTING]
Seems that stuff I filmed
yesterday attracted
the wrong attention.
Yeah, I know.
And it's bad news, man.
If any of those guys
get arrested
as a result of your film,
you can forget about working
in the townships again.
Hey, I just filmed it.
I didn't make it happen.
You can't just film
anywhere you like.
Those people trusted you.
That's why they allowed you
in there in the first place.
Thozamile,
somebody was killed.
Now what am I supposed to do?
Just stand there and watch?
It's my job to get the story.
Then tell the whole story.
What do those
millions of viewers
across the world see?
Yet another example
of black on black violence.
Now, is that the story
you want to tell?
No, but it happens.
Of course it happens.
But then it happens
for a reason.
And it's your duty
to point that out.
Look, I record what I see
as objectively as possible.
That's easy for you to say.
[SIGHING]You're not the one who's
having his head kicked in.
But then, you're only there
because you're paid.
Oh, don't give me that crap!
The last four years
I've been shot at,
tear-gassed, stoned,
arrested, beaten up.
Welcome to South Africa.
Except I can't go home
to the safety of my white skin
at the end of the day.
Jesus, Thozamile!
What is this?
I care about this country
just as much as you do.
Then wake up, man!
Stop hiding
behind your camera!
Get involved!
You have the power
to tell the real story
about this country.
[PHONE RINGING]Not just
sensational bullshit.
Otherwise, you are
no different from
your Boer brothers
who are causing the shit
in the first place!
[TAPE REWINDING]
[TAPE PLAYING]
[GUNFIRE ON TV]
[PEOPLE SHOUTING]
[PEOPLE CHATTERING ON TAPE]
[CHILD CRYING]
[TALKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
[GUNS FIRING]
You people,
let's get out now
very quickly, okay?
Because you people
are the fucking cause
of this now.
Uh, we're not
the cause of this.
POLICEMAN:
Man, don't... Don't come
and talk shit to me now.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
The police were in here
this afternoon.
They want to know
what the hell
happened out there.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]What did you tell them?
Oh, I bought us some time.
You have to leave town
while I do some
fancy footwork and placate
some ruffled feathers.
And save both our asses.
God knows I've done it before.
I'm sending you to Namibia
for a couple of days.
Charles Rutherford
is looking for a cameraman.
What? You must be joking!
That old soak
hasn't seen any real action
since the war in Zimbabwe.
Listen, he may not
be your style,
but he survived
20 years in this business.
CHARLES RUTHERFORD:
Eighteen months ago,
Nhadiep killed
his first victim
in this dusty
sheep farming area
of South West Africa.
Today, he struck again,
killing two farm laborers.
He only seems to go
for his own tribespeople.Between these attacks,
Yeah.he's left a trail
of devastation
with five dead
and scores maimed
and wounded.
The local police have mounted
an extensive hunt for Nhadiep
over the past two years,
or how he selects his targets.
But this elusive renegade
has become so good
at avoiding capture
that he's become
something of a legend
amongst his own people.
The Nama.
Charles Rutherford,
VisCom News, Namibia.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[STATIC CRACKLING ON RADIO]
[SCANNING RADIO]
MAN ON RADIO:
Seven-ninety-five.
WOMAN: So you're not joking.
[RADIO CHANNEL CHANGES]
[MAN SINGING]
[RADIO CLICKS OFF]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
HELMUT: Hey, who's this?
Hi, Sarge!
How's it?
[PLATVOET SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
Oh, keeping well,
are you?
[LAUGHING]Oh, terrible, man, terrible.
Yes, Charlie?
It's a bit hot today, huh?
What are you doing here?
Local air traffic controller
as well, now?
No, just checking up on you.
You know you can
never trust an Englishman.
So I hear that
new boytjie of yours
is filming riots and stuff
in Soweto, eh?
Must be interesting.
I'd like to hear
some of his stories.
Bit of a sensitive subject
right now. I wouldn't
mention it if I were you.
This is meant to be
a break for him.
[LAUGHING]
Ja,Prince Charlie.
It's good to sweat.
Maybe it'll make
a man out of him.
Hello, Anton. Welcome.
Long time no see.Hi.
Hello, hello, hello there.
Helmut Schadeberg.Right, hello.
Sergeant du Plessis.
But call me Platvoet.
Welcome to South West.
Anton van Heerden.An Afrikaner?
I was beginning to believe
all newsmen were
a bunch of foreigners.
I hear you were checking out
Kaffirs knocking each other up
in Soweto?
Uh, Charlie here said
I should ask you.
This, believe it or not,
is the local
expert on Nhadiep.
Little wonder that
they haven't been able
to catch him.
[CHUCKLING]Don't you believe
a word he says, Anton.
This is Joey,
who's our guide.
And interpreter
when he's not
drunk as a skunk.
Hi, Joey.He'll do anything you ask,
except work.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Ah, I must get going.
Listen,
if you have any trouble
with this Englishman
just call me.
[CHUCKLING]
Bye, guys.
Anton, you see
all these farms here?
Because of Nhadiep.
We just can't find
Namas to work
on these farms anymore.
They're too scared of Nhadiep.
And, you know, without boys
nothing is possible.
What interests me
is that the Nama
believe that he's magical.
He's indestructible.
Believe that he can
change himself into a rock
or the wind.
Anything he likes.
HELMUT: Yeah.
But to them,
anyone who can run away from
the white man for so long
[LAUGHING]must be a magician.
Tell me, have you been
to South West before?
Namibia!
Uh, Namibia, um...
Call it what you like.
The Bushmen call it,
[CHUCKLING]"the land God created
in a temper."
What the Bushmen meant
was "The arsehole
of the universe."
HELMUT: Is that why you're
passing through it,
hey, Charles, eh?
[LAUGHING]
Oh, Charles,
you're just jealous
because you haven't got
a desert in England, eh?
[LAUGHING]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
HELMUT: All right? Yeah.
Karen.
Karen!
Well, here we are.
Nhadiep country.
[INSECTS BUZZING]
Hang on.
Karen!
Karen!
[MEOWING]
My mother's coming.
[CAT MEOWS]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Oh, Ma.
[CAT MEOWS]
And where do you think
you're going?
Missis?
Round the back, man!
They pretend
they're so stupid.
Believe me,
they know bloody well.
[CAT MEOWING]
Ah, well, here we are.
Nothing fancy.Ah.
This is fine.
Uh, now, if you need
anything else,
you just speak to my wife.
She runs the place.
[CHUCKLING]I only look after the bar.
Okay.Thank you.
[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
[ROOSTER CROWING]Hello.
Morning, Joey.
JOEY: Hello, boss.
Tell me, Joey,
do you know Nhadiep?
I never met him, boss.
Joey, do me a favor.
Please don't call me "boss."
Do you believe he has magic?
Sorry, boss?
Well, do you believe
he can fly with the wind?
Change into things.
Stuff like that?
They tell me so, boss.
Do you think
they're going
to catch him?
Who can catch him?
Nobody.
He's like a rabbit.
He runs here, he runs there.
Nobody can catch him.
You can't catch the wind.
Never. Never.
[BIRD CHIRPING]
MARIE: It's not that I believe
all those stories that
the Namas say about Nhadiep,
that he can turn himself
into a stone
or a bird or whatever.
But take the night
he shot Klaus.
That's the--the Nama
that worked for us
for 22 years.
My husband was in town
with the police.
Somebody had heard
that they'd seen Nhadiep
in town.
And that same night,
Nhadiep shot Klaus
right here on the farm,
while my husband
was in town looking for him.
And how do you explain that?
My husband says...
You mustn't put this on TV.
My husband says
the Namas are so lazy that
if they don't want to work
they'll see Nhadiep
everywhere.
[LAUGHING]
No, please, go on.
But it's, um...
It's getting very hard for us.
You know, um,
I suppose it's because
even though you know
it's a lot of nonsense,
you start believing
those stories yourself
about Nhadiep.
Um...
The whole time
you get this feeling that...
That he's watching you.
I'm... I get worried
about my husband
going into the mountains.
I always think that
Nhadiep is going to shoot him.
Not that
he's ever shot a white.
I just wish they'd hurry up
and find him, because
it gets on my nerves,
I don't...
I mean, otherwise I don't know
what's going to happen to us.
[SOBBING]
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING]
[LAUGHING]
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
OTTO: You want to know
about this bloody Nhadiep?
I'll tell you,
he's nothing
but a rapist, man,
a sex maniac.
You know, I reckon he'll
kill anybody just for
the bloody hell of it.
We used to always say,
just let the terrorists
come down here to the south
and we will sort them out, eh.
But now, here's this madman
going around killing people
and we can't do a thing,
hey, Sarge?
One hotnot with a gun
and he's got to get
the army in to get us out.
ROOTMAN: No, he's got
to make a mistake.
Then we'll get him.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]I can tell you that much.
When?Right now!
ROOTMAN: We'll get him.
Don't you worry.
[PEOPLE LAUGHING]
[SIGHS]
HELMUT: No, don't, don't,
don't, don't, don't.
Don't, please.
Helmut.
[WHISTLING]
CHARLES: Come on, Anton...ANTON: Oh no, no, no...
[LAUGHING]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[GRUNTING]
[ROOSTER CROWING]
[BABY CRYING]
[BABOON SCREECHING]
[BABY CRYING]
[RADIO CHATTERING]
[IN AFRIKAANS]
[ROOSTER CROWING]
[PEOPLE SINGING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[SINGING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Morning.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[SINGING]
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
JOEY: Morning, boss.
Morning, Joey.
You looking for me,
boss?No.
Is this your family?This is my sister's family.
This is my mother's sister.
[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]Hello.
And this is my sister.
[PEOPLE APPLAUDING]
[NEIGHING]
[ACCORDION MUSIC PLAYING]
KLAUS: Oh, Charles.
Well, hello there.
Welcome, welcome.
Glad you could make it.
CHARLES: Well, happy birthday,
Marianne.Thank you.
Do come in.
Come and join the party.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[SHOUTING IN AFRIKAANS]
ROOTMAN: Charles, Anton...
[ALL LAUGHING]And, uh, how's your head
this morning, mate?
Charles, let me introduce you
to our local Member
of Parliament, Meinert.
How do you do?So, you're making
a film about Nhadiep.
If the man exists.
I'm beginning
to have my doubts.
And this is his cameraman,
Anton van Heerden.
Pleased to meet you.
Thank you.Welcome. Welcome.
Sorry, uh,
this is Henning.
CHARLES: Charming.KLAUS: Don't worry about him.
This business of Nhadiep
is a very touchy subject
around here.
Man, he's just being
bloody difficult.
Well, that may be so,
but I reckon he's got
a lot of sense, you know.
While the rest of the farmers
are selling up,
he's busy buying.
Anyway, a drink.Yeah.
You see, you have these,
uh, people of the media
going around saying
Nhadiep is
a victim of apartheid.
Complete nonsense.
It--it just isn't the case,
you see, listen...
It's over there, okay?Yeah.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[LAUGHING]
You know,
you guys must come
and film on my farm.
Nhadiep shot one of
my shepherds there last year.
And now I can't get boys
to work there anymore.
You know, I stopped
counting, but I...
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
I'm afraid
my Afrikaans is very bad.
Look, that Kaffir
has cost us more
than the whole drought.
Now, you want to make
a bloody film about him.
Well, the film
is actually about
the manhunt...
Wouldn't you
rather make a film about
your own people?
Us. The farmers.
Or, aren't you interested
in your own people anymore?
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Those whites that wanted
to go, they've gone long ago.
And those that wanted
to stay, like me,
[STUTTERING] we're here.
We're accepting the situation
as it is, right now.
I mean, we--we can't just
up and leave and run off
to South Africa.
There we don't know
who's who.
Who are we chasing?
ROOTMAN:
Nhadiep's been shooting
at Henning's farm. Let's go.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
[MAN CHATTERING ON RADIO]
[ALL CHATTERING IN AFRIKAANS]
Gone with the wind again.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[ENGINE STARTING]
[SIREN WAILING]
It's amazing nobody
was killed in here.
Pieterse, Namibian Herald,
how's it?
Anton van Heerden,
VisCom News.Hi.
It's all because of that baby
that this has happened,
you know.
What?
That woman out there
with the kid.
Who do you think
is the father?
Go and ask the big white boss
what happened here.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
What the hell do you
think you're doing?
Get on, get off!
This is private property.
No one asked you
to film here.What's going on here?
Come on, get off my farm,
you vultures.
Come on, you've got
no business here.
Take it easy.Get off!
Come on, Anton.
[BABY CRYING]
Oh, for Christ's sake.
Get in!
[GUN FIRING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]Okay.
Joey!
[TWIGS SNAPPING]
[LAUGHING]
Nothing better than
a lekker boskak.
Once he gets
into the mountains
you can forget about it.
Do you think
he's still around?
Don't worry about Nhadiep.
He doesn't kill whites.
He's just killing
his own people.
He could have killed me
a long time ago
if he wanted to.
Many times.
Nhadiep!
I'll get you!
[LAUGHING]
All these helicopters
and fancy night vision
and what have you...
Doesn't help you. Nothing.
If you really want
to catch this guy,
you'll have to do it
with a bit of luck.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
He's laughing at them.
You must know him
quite well by now.Hell, man,
I've thought more about him
over the last 18 months
than I've thought
about my own wife.
You know, you feel so small
when you've come back
after weeks in the mountains
people point at you
and they say,
"You too stupid
to catch him, eh?"
You know, often
I'd find his tracks.
And he'd been watching me
the whole time.
He's a clever little hotnot.
Did you know he can write?
Was... Only was in school
for two years.
But he writes
poems and that.
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
[PANTING]
[BLEATING]
NHADIEP: "Just inside,
full of surprise
"And then, suspicion
"Reach, stand still
"Reassure me, please
"Just beginning
Still beginning"
Probably not the right time
to tell you, old cock,
but the water here
is not unrelated
to the stuff that they flush
down the lavatory.
If I were you
I'd stick to the beer.
[SPITTING]
So,
what do you think?
This half-beast, half-man
will-o'-the-wisp
legend of the South,
it seems he also writes.
Though I'd hardly
call him Byron.
Ah, give him a break.
He only spent
two years at school.
But then Byron
didn't run with the wind
and fly with the clouds.
Do you think
he's politically motivated?God, no.
No leader of man.
Far too individual for that.
There's integrity
in what he does.
A sense of Adam
imbued with primitive,
original rage.
Oh, I think I would have
enjoyed hanging out with him
in the '60s.
[LAUGHING]
"When freedom is outlawed,
"only the outlaws
will be free."
Nhadiep is a classic outlaw.
Frankly, I think the Namas
just love his ability
to avoid capture.
I'm famished. You coming?Yeah, I won't be long.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
Thank you.
NURSE: This way.
Granddad. Come,
the TV is here.
Do up your shirt man!
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Sit up.
There you go.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Shame. He has a headache.
But he's tough.
He'll get better quickly.
[NURSE SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
He says
he didn't do anything
to upset Nhadiep.
He doesn't know
why he shot him.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
He's still a bit confused.
Maybe you should
speak to Jantjie.
Or Ouboet.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[PEOPLE LAUGHING]
CHARLES: Are they both
victims of Nhadiep?
Yes, and there are some more
in the ladies' ward.
Charles, let's just
get a shot of him.
Forget the interview.
Oh, fine, okay.
That's fine.
Don't worry about this.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
What?
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Charles, he said something
about the woman on the farm
being Nhadiep's woman.
Hannes, is that his child?
Oh, come on, for Christ's
sake, get the shot before
he falls to pieces completely.
Perhaps
we can get to Nhadiep
through her.
Oh, be sensible. He's not
going to waste his time
with women and children.
Well, we've screwed that one.
So, who's next?
PIETERSE: This is what
the government set aside
as a farming reserve
for the Nama.
Can you believe it?
CHARLES: How could you
possibly farm here?
It gives new meaning
to getting blood
out of a stone.
Yeah, the Nama used to rule
the whole of Southern Namibia,
man, now they got this.
CHARLES: Unbelievable.
Which one's
Nhadiep's father?
You okay?ANTON: Yep.
Rolling.
In a country
with such a diversity
of people and culture
and after
nearly a century
of colonial rule,
Nhadiep has become
everyman's legend.
A murderer, a liberator,
mystic, a hero.
And though his real motives
remain a mystery,
to many he has come
to personify the lost freedom
of the Nama
whose territory this was
before the imposition
of German rule
and the historical successor,
South Africa.
Cut.
Right then, here we are.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
You got it?Cheers.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]Yes, here's to Nhadiep.
Long may he live.
Though I doubt it.
Why?
Because he's got no guilt.
Whereas a common criminal
may well surrender,
go quietly.
Not Nhadiep.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
What?
Because maybe
he's just a madman
with a gun,
going around killing people
for the hell of it.
And here we are turning him
into some kind of legend.
Well, who cares?
So long as
his acts of violence threaten
the very basis of society,
there's still hope
for change.
Ma!
What?
He may not come in here.
There is a bar for coloreds
in the back.
Oh, for God's sake.
Hello.
Ma!
Time to leave, chaps.
He can't drink in here.
Look, he's a friend of mine.
I don't care if it is
the State President's friend.
They've got their own bar.
Come!
Can you give me a ride?
Of course.
Sorry about that.
Don't let it bother you.
I should have realized.
KAREN: Come and look here,
Charles.
Look.
And I'm telling you now
in plain English,
no Kaffirs and hotnots
in here.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
And I don't care
what people say.
Extraordinary.
The English language
will never be the same.
Where are you going?
Back to my fellow lepers.
Ah.Are you coming?
No, I'll stay here,
keep the peace.
Fuck her.
I'd rather not,
thank you.
Hey.
What are you doing?Sorry.
Sorry.
[URINATING]
[HONKS]
Ma!
[HONKING]
[DOG BARKING]
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
You sure I'm allowed in here?
Maybe it's my turn
to get kicked out.
You should be so lucky.
No, they're just grateful
that a white man should bother
to come in here
in the first place.
What are you gonna have?Oh, this is on me.
I owe you one.
[WHISTLING] Andy,
two cold ones, bro.
Why are there no Namas
in here?
Well, nothing's stopping them,
but apartheid is
a contagious disease.
Monkey see, monkey do.
See, us colored people,
we're far too in
with the whites
to mix with Namas.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Listen, you guys better
be careful about
over-romanticizing Nhadiep.
Don't forget one thing.
He kills Namas, not whites.
Some people around here,
I guess they like that.
What do you mean?
Do you really think
Nhadiep could get this far
without protection
from the whites?
How do you think
he manages to disappear
every time they're hunting
for him without a trace?
Where does he get
his guns from, his bullets?
Well, he steals them,
obviously.
And what about the girlfriend
on the farm, hmm?
And do you know that Nhadiep
sends his grandfather money
at the end of every month?
What about that?
What are you saying?
I'm saying that maybe somebody
is paying Nhadiep a salary.
What, to kill Namas?
Listen,
bushman hunting used to
be a sport around here
not so long ago.
The only difference is now
they've hired a black man
to do it for them.
Who's gonna pay him?
Oh, you guys, man,
you're walking around here
in a daydream.
Look, all I'm gonna say is
that there are some people,
white people, who are
buying up these farms
very cheap now
thanks to Nhadiep.
That makes Nhadiep
into a mercenary.
With both hands
in the cookie jar.
But, please, don't let
these little details spoil
your movie, huh?
Yeah, I used to believe
in Nhadiep's power
and his magic.
Once.
Excuse me.
Very good shot.
Come on.
I saw what you were
doing there.
You and that colored man.
Ow!
Oops.
That wasn't funny, stupid.
Thought you were ready.
Come on, old cock, cheer up.
Nobody really knows
anything about Nhadiep,
not even his own family.
Everybody seems to be
making up willy-nilly
as they go along.
Including you?
Including me.
Well, maybe it is true.
Maybe Nhadiep is just
a mercenary.
Why not?
God knows it won't be
the first time
this sick society
has created a monster
like that.
Come on, show me
a country that hasn't had
its own share of violence.
And believe me,
I've seen most of them.
All this because some bastard
wants to buy farms cheaply.
Henning.
Oh, forget it.
Of course, Charles.
Who else is buying up farms
around here?
And why was he so keen
to get us away from his farm?
Because he allows Nhadiep
to hide there, that's why.
And that explains the woman.
Well, put two
and two together.
Hang on, you don't even
know for sure that
she's Nhadiep's girl.
Well, maybe Nhadiep's
been blackmailed.
The baby.
Henning's using the baby
to get Nhadiep
to do those things.
Anton, the baby's only
about six months old.
Nhadiep's been killing
for nearly two years.
Well,
everyone else is making up
their version of him.
[CHARLES LAUGHING]
Can I help?
Hello.
We're the film crew.
I called you
a few days ago.
Ah, yes. Hello.
Come to film
our little ceremony?
Well, yes, and to see
if you've changed your mind
about giving an interview
on Nhadiep.
We've read some
of his writings and we find it
very hard to believe
that he was at school
for such a short time.
Yes, well, we must remember
that he was 12
when he started.
But he was a bright boy,
definitely.
What was he like?
Very quiet.
Though he had
a terrible temper.
He used to bite
the other boys sometimes.
But can I offer you a drink?
Oh, that would be lovely.Sit, please, sit.
Thank you.
I'm sure our gallant warriors
won't miss a few.
Why does he attack
only his own people?
You know much about
the Nama people, Mr...
Van Heerden, Anton.
And no, not much.
The Namas are a proud people,
Mr. Van Heerden.
I suspect Nhadiep finds it
very hard to accept
what's happened
to his people
over the years.
Their humiliation,
subservience.
So, he hits out
at his own people.
I suppose it's like hitting
somebody you love
when it's yourself
you feel angry with.
I was told he was being paid
to kill Namas.
You hear so many stories
these days, Mr. Van Heerden,
that you hardly know
which one to believe.
Well, what about...
What about
the woman and baby
on Henning's farm?
We were there after
the last shooting.
Marta?
You know about her?
Yeah,
this business about the baby
must have broken his heart
into a thousand pieces.
Poor man.
What business?
Look, as I've said,
you don't know what to believe
any longer.
But you must excuse me now,
please.
If our warriors don't get
their drinks soon,
I'll have a real war
on my hands.
The interview?
No, no, no, please,
later perhaps.
But, good luck
with your film.
Maybe it will really put
this place on the map
for a change.
CHARLES: [CHUCKLING]
Yes, maybe.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
MAN ON MEGAPHONE:
Remember our great leader
who tried to unite
the people of Namibia
against the foreign occupation
of our land.
Remember also those
who died for our country.
We greet them
with the following words,
"We salute you
and all our forefathers
"who bravely resisted
colonial rule
"and died for the liberation
of our country.
"We know that
the struggle will be long
"and that some will fall
by the wayside.
"But we, the younger
generation, promise today,
after 100 years,
"that we will continue
with the struggle
"until the bells
of independent Namibia
are rung one day."
[GUNS FIRING]
[PEOPLE EXCLAIMING]
[PEOPLE SCREAMING]
[BRASS BAND PLAYING]
[WOMAN SHOUTS]
[CHEERING]
Great stuff, this, eh?
The more the day wears on,
the more difficult it becomes
to tell the difference
between the Germans
and the Namas.
Yeah, and the more
history gets rewritten.
Why not?
History is what you make it,
my friend.
I see that Charles
has found
some soul mates.
Real colonial relics,
that bunch, man.
[PLAYING AFRICAN POP MUSIC]
CHARLES: I don't like this.
Henning might leave
the pageant early.
ANTON:
Don't worry. We're white,
we're protected.
What? Last time
he nearly shot us.
Look, I just want
to ask somebody
if that's Nhadiep's baby.
[BIRDS TRILLING]
Come back here!
[HORN HONKING]
He's not here.
Thank you very much.
Get in!
ANTON: We're onto
something here, Charles.
CHARLES:
You can't just barge
into people's houses.
Okay, relax.
No harm done.
He could have arrived
while you were in there,
for Christ's sake!
Then I would've asked him
what the hell's going on.
Charles!
If Marta is Nhadiep's lover,
and that's his child,
we can prove Henning's
using him.
Why did he try and kill her?
I don't know.
Let's go and find out.
Nobody is going to hire
a hitman so they can buy
a couple of farms cheaply.
It's suicide.
[WATER RUNNING]
You've made no effort to get
Nhadiep's side of the story.
Nothing.
Now, if you want to
understand this country,
you'd better get to
the heart of the story.
I can't afford
to hide behind ethics
and search warrants.
What I report is more
than news, Charles.
It's my life,
it's my future.
How you deal with your guilt
is your business.
But at this minute
you're working for me
and I expect
at least some pretense
of objectivity.
Your problem is
that you avoid the truth.
It upsets your comfortable
little movies.
The truth?
What do you mean
by the truth?
Your determination
to hold Henning responsible
for Nhadiep
not turning out the way
that you want him to
seems a very curious
perception of the truth to me,
if you don't mind me
saying so.
I don't know, Charles.
I live here, you don't.
NHADIEP: "Nothing
"Nothing matters
"My body, nothing
"Departed to death
"In you I saw
an excellent wife
"But there was something
wrong with you spiritually
"Now I shall see that things
turn out as I want them
"Now I shall see that things
turn out as I want them"
Thanks.
[SNORTING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Could I speak
to your daughter,
please?
[IN AFRIKAANS]
I understand.
I won't be long.
Thank you.
[BABY COOING]
Marta?
[MARTA SPEAKING AFRIKAANS]
Please don't be frightened.
I just want to talk to you
about Nhadiep
and the baby.
Get away from that baby!
[BABY CRYING]
[BABOON SCREECHING]
What are you doing here,
Van Heerden?
I told you.
We're doing a film on Nhadiep.
Yeah, so what do you want
from my people?
What have these Kaffirs
been telling you?
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
They haven't told me anything.
[MARTA SCREAMING]
What are you doing?
Are you crazy?
Yeah, Van Heerden,
I'm crazy.
I suppose they told you
that I paid Nhadiep
to kill all those Kaffirs.
You're gonna kill him!
Bleeding lies!
All bloody lies!
He was killing long before
I bought those farms.
Look, I came here
because I thought
she might be Nhadiep's woman.
No other reason.
He wishes.
He's too busy believing
that story that he's a hero
or something.
But, here on my farm,
he's only another hotnot.
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
So you are hiding him here.
I wasn't hiding him.
I mean, nobody tells Nhadiep
what to do.
But you allow him
to stay here.
To make sure he's not caught.
Maybe I didn't see him.
I mean, how must I know
what my Kaffirs
are getting up to?
And meanwhile
you're just buying up farms.
You newspeople...
You know fuck all!
Why don't you...
Why don't you fuck off
back to Soweto,
that's where you belong.
You're not one of us anymore!
[MARTA SCREAMING]
[BABY CRYING]
[GRUNTING]
[BABOON SCREECHING]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[GROANS]
Watch it!
[GRUNTS]
Nhadiep! Stop!
[YELLING IN AFRIKAANS]
[PLATVOET SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
[PLATVOET IN AFRIKAANS]
Damn it!
[YELLING IN AFRIKAANS]
[GUN FIRING]
CHARLES: Anton!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
PLATVOET: Nhadiep!
[GUN FIRES]
[PLATVOET YELLING]
[GUN FIRES]Where the hell are you going,
you...
[PANTING]
Platvoet...
[IN AFRIKAANS]
[LAUGHING]
Yeah, Nhadiep,
just you and me,
till the end, eh?
[LAUGHING]
[GUN FIRES]
Fuck you!
[LAUGHING]
Get away from there,
Van Heerden.
PLATVOET: I said get away!
[HONKING]
[PEOPLE YELLING]
PLATVOET: Go on.
Go on.
Keep off, keep off,
keep off. Go on.
[PLATVOET SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
Hey, Platvoet!
[POLICEMAN SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
[IN AFRIKAANS]
Right, let's see,
let's see if you got
the right man here.
[ALL CLAMORING]
All right?
You do it.
MAN: Go, go, go, go.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
Get out! Get out! Out, out!
PIETERSE: Anton,
are you okay?
Hey, what happened
out there, man?
CHARLES: Joey,
what are they saying?
Come on, man, wake up.
She is saying,
"Where is his face?"
What?Nhadiep has been shot
in the face, Charles.
She's saying that
if it's Nhadiep, then
where is his face?
PIETERSE: See, some people
don't believe it's Nhadiep.
They think someone else
has been shot
to try and trick them
into going back
on to the farms.
Oh, give me a break.
[MEN CHATTERING]
OFFICER: Sergeant.
Fuck you, Henning.
[BRASS BAND PLAYING]
Many people have asked
what prayers can be spoken
at the grave of such a man.
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING
IN AFRIKAANS]
Friends,
Nhadiep is today being
buried as a black man.
Not because he killed
[TRANSLATING IN AFRIKAANS]or he stole or hurt.
But in recognition
of the resistance he gave
to the colonizers of our land.
For reminding us
of our strength,
our spirit
our glorious past.
Let us sing.
[ALL SINGING IN AFRIKAANS]
I'm going back
to Henning's farm.
Anton!
I have to go, Charles.What the hell for?
To find Marta and the baby.
Why aren't they here?
And Gerrit.What do you mean?
I think they're in danger.
Maybe Nhadiep stole
that pistol,
but maybe Henning
gave it to him.
The only people
who know are those two.
Anton, leave that
to the police.
I can't. Not now,
not after this.
If it wasn't for me,
Nhadiep might still be alive.
No, no, no, no,
that was inevitable.
Please drop it.
That's exactly what Henning
expects me to do.
That's why people like him
have power in this country.
[ENGINE STARTS]
Don't expect me
to come with you.
I don't.
God, you angst-ridden Boers
can be a pain in the arse.
I'm not a Boer.
I'm an Afrikaner.
Well, if you have to go, go.
But for God's sake,
watch your back. I don't want
to attend another funeral.
Go on, then.
[FLIES BUZZING]
[IN AFRIKAANS]
[BIRDS TWITTERING]
What's it, Mummy?
You're in shit, Van Heerden!
What do you want here?
[SPEAKING IN AFRIKAANS]
Where is Marta?
Don't worry about my people.
I do with them what I like.
Same as I did with Nhadiep.
You used him.What?
You fucking used him.Jesus.
You know nothing about him.
I brought him
out of the mountains.
I showed them he's no good.
The Namas think
he's powerful but I proved
he's a real person.
None of this magic business.
But then he mustn't fuck
with me.
I tamed him
and I fucking broke him.
Stay where you are.
Are you gonna shoot me?
Why don't you fight me
like a true Afrikaner?
[YELLING]
[GROANS]
[LAUGHING]
HENNING: Come on!
[GROANING]
HENNING: Stand up!
[PANTING]
What do you want from me?
What did I do to you?
You don't understand.
He came to me because...
Oh, fuck it.
I tried to stop this thing.
I understood him.
They think
he's something great.
But he's nothing.
That's the problem.
I let him stay to show
he's just a hotnot.
Problem is now
he can be anything.
Even magic.
Why do we fight?
We Afrikaners
must stick together.
[GUN FIRES]
[GUN FIRES]