Watch Long Night's Journey into Day

Long Night's Journey into Day is a moving and powerful documentary from 2000 that explores the process of reconciliation and healing in the aftermath of South Africa's Apartheid era. Focusing on four cases heard before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the film gives voice to both victims and perpetrators of Apartheid-era atrocities, highlighting the complex and often painful work of coming to terms with the past in order to move forward.

Throughout the film, we are introduced to a range of individuals whose lives were touched by Apartheid in different ways. These include Mary Burton, a white woman whose son was killed by Apartheid security forces in the 1980s; Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, a black psychologist who worked as a researcher for the TRC; and Mongezi Manqina, a young man who was arrested and tortured by the security forces during the Apartheid era.

As we follow these individuals and others through their stories, we gain a deeper understanding of the horrific impact of Apartheid on South African society. We witness the anguish of parents whose children were killed or disappeared, the pain of those who were tortured, and the resentment felt by some who were forced to live under the oppressive regime. At the same time, we see how some perpetrators were able to justify their actions, either as part of their duty to the state or as a means of protecting their own families.

Despite the deeply ingrained trauma and pain on both sides of the divide, the film ultimately offers a message of hope and reconciliation. Through the work of the TRC, we see how some victims and perpetrators have been able to confront the past and find a way to move forward. This is especially true in the case of Gobodo-Madikizela, who is shown meeting with Eugene de Kock, a notorious Apartheid-era assassin known as "Prime Evil." In their exchange, we witness the power of genuine remorse and forgiveness to heal wounds that might otherwise never have been addressed.

Overall, Long Night's Journey into Day is a moving and powerful documentary that sheds light on one of the most painful and difficult periods in South African history. Through a combination of historical footage and contemporary interviews, the film gives a voice to those whose lives were impacted by Apartheid, and shows us the power of reconciliation and forgiveness to heal even the deepest wounds. For anyone interested in the complex process of coming to terms with a difficult past, this is a must-see film.