Film Review – Escape from Pretoria

“Escape from Pretoria” is based on the true story of Tim Jenkin, who, in 1979, joined two other inmates on a mission to break out of a South African prison. The event occurred during a politically charged time in the country’s history, and the act itself was viewed as an ultimate statement of defiance during an era of violent divide. Co-writer/director Francis Annan isn’t afraid of exploring the tension of South Africa during a volatile decade, but he’s also attentive to thriller cinema, keeping “Escape from Pretoria” involving as portrait of corruption and gripping as a prison escape extravaganza, dealing with all sorts of near-misses and sweaty momentum, making the feature livelier than it initially appears. The effort is never preachy or throttled by unnecessary asides, going full charge as a nail-biting ride of impossible planning and luck, with Annan finding the thrills and chills in Jenkin’s tale of survival. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com