South African Film "Rewind" Helps Rewrite History
On November 2, at The New School’s Tishman Auditorium, the South African film “Rewind” raised many fundamental questions about the presentation and representation of history. The film combines archival footage from an Apartheid-torn South Africa with a musical score that was written in 2004. The vocal composition of this score was inspired by the many tragic stories that were told by survivors of violence in the Apartheid era. These stories come from the 21,000 victims who retold their past in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that was put into place in 1994, after Nelson Mandela was voted president in the first multi-racial elections.
Not only does the film include the victims telling their story before the Commission, but they also retell their story some 15 years later for the film. While being interviewed they look at footage from the musical score that was based on their stories. These different representations and reinterpretations of history created an interesting discussion after the film.
One of the panelists was Graeme Simpson, who set up the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation in South Africa. He questions the roll of history in public debate: discussing history should not put the past behind us, but rather in front of us, for a better understanding and for future generations. He also strives to debunk the phrase “revealing is healing,” as some victims don’t heal after sharing their story, and even think negatively about the concept of reconciliation, as many of the offenders were never prosecuted. “Grief has become a permanent damage in my life”, says Michael Lapsley, who’s hands were blown off by a letter bomb in 1990. A man who violently lost his eyesight speaks in a different tone: “Telling my story feels like getting my eyesight back.”
Not only does the film include the victims telling their story before the Commission, but they also retell their story some 15 years later for the film. While being interviewed they look at footage from the musical score that was based on their stories. These different representations and reinterpretations of history created an interesting discussion after the film.
One of the panelists was Graeme Simpson, who set up the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation in South Africa. He questions the roll of history in public debate: discussing history should not put the past behind us, but rather in front of us, for a better understanding and for future generations. He also strives to debunk the phrase “revealing is healing,” as some victims don’t heal after sharing their story, and even think negatively about the concept of reconciliation, as many of the offenders were never prosecuted. “Grief has become a permanent damage in my life”, says Michael Lapsley, who’s hands were blown off by a letter bomb in 1990. A man who violently lost his eyesight speaks in a different tone: “Telling my story feels like getting my eyesight back.”
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