Is the movie Escape from Pretoria (2020) based on a true story?

Yes, the movie Escape from Pretoria (2020) is based on a true story. The film tells the story of political prisoners Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, who staged a daring escape from Pretoria Central Prison in South Africa in 1979.

What is the true story behind the movie Escape from Pretoria (2020)?

The movie “Escape from Pretoria” (2020) is based on a true story that took place in South Africa in the late 1970s. The movie follows the story of Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, two political prisoners who were incarcerated in Pretoria Central Prison for their involvement in anti-apartheid activities.

Jenkin and Lee were both members of the African National Congress (ANC), an organization that fought against apartheid in South Africa. They were arrested and charged with terrorism and sabotage for their involvement in distributing anti-apartheid materials, and were sentenced to 12 and 8 years in prison, respectively.

While in prison, Jenkin and Lee were determined to escape and continue their fight against apartheid. They set to work on a plan to create a set of keys that would open every door in the prison, including the main gate. They used scrap metal and other materials to make the keys, and smuggled them out of the prison using a series of hidden compartments in their clothing.

After months of planning and preparation, Jenkin, Lee, and two other prisoners made their escape on December 11, 1979. They used the keys to unlock the prison doors and climbed over the walls using homemade ropes. They made their way to neighboring countries, where they continued their work for the ANC.

The escape was a major embarrassment for the South African government, and helped to raise awareness of the atrocities of apartheid around the world. Jenkin and Lee later wrote a book about their experiences, titled “Escape from Pretoria”.