Edition 2021

How to Steal a Country

A group of investigative journalists uncovers a corruption case involving Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa until 2018. Soon afterwards, the newsroom suffers a disinformation campaign.

Two young people at a technology company find evidence that lays bare the modus operandi behind the economic capture of the South African state by private interests, carried out with the help of some politicians.

Thanks to Zuma, the members of the Indian Gupta family use the country’s revenues for their own benefit through irregular stakes in coal mines, media outlets and technology companies, and even through fraudulent access to public office.

When a judicial investigation is opened, President Zuma declares that it is all lies and fake news. Faced with the growing ties between private interests and government, the journalists ask whether there is room for justice in the fledgling South African democracy that was so hard won.

Theme:

Politics

Rehad Desai

Rehad Desai is one of Africa’s leading documentarians, he has directed and produced numerous Feature length documentaries, many of which have seen international broadcast, theatrical release, festival prizes and critical acclaim.

A recent film, MINERS SHOT DOWN, is a synthesis of Rehad’s skills as a filmmaker and experience as an activist. The film has garnered over 28 international awards including the International Emmy Award for Documentary (2015).
HOW TO STEAL A COUNTRY follows his prior and current work, THE GIANT IS FALLING and EVERYTHING MUST FALL respectively that entertainingly illuminates the myriad challenges South Africa’s faces.

Mark J. Kaplan

Director Mark J. Kaplan is one of South Africa’s foremost documentary filmmakers whose films have been widely used in countries transitioning from violence to democracy such as Northern Ireland, Colombia, Palestine and former Yugoslavia. He was held in solitary confinement and deported from Apartheid South Africa.
His films have focused on social and political issues, human rights, intergenerational trauma and historical memory. He has won several international awards including an Emmy Award for THE LION’S TRAIL.

Technical details

Year:

2019

Credits

Direction

Rehad Desai i Mark J. Kaplan

Executive Production

Michael Auret, Mike Lerner, Geert Veuskens

Sound

Sibusiso Zulu, President Kapa

Distribution

DocsBarcelona Distribution

Production

Zivia Desai, Anita Khanna, Rehad Desai

Co-production

Heino Deckert (ma.ja.de Filmproduktion), Gudny Hummelvoll (Hummelfilm), Maarten Schmidt (Storyhouse), Grant Keir (Faction North)

Screenplay

Anita Khanna, Rehad Desai

Editing

Megan Gill, Geert Veuskens, Nikki Comninos

Cinematography

Nic Hofmeyr, Duncan Tilley

Music

Jannous Aukema

Age rating

Apte per a tots els públics.