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The truth of the Cheonan's demise is hidden beneath the waves

Earlier this year a South Korean warship, the Cheonan, claimed 46 lives when it sank off the coast of North Korea. The events surrounding this tragedy were unclear, with noncommittal comments from both Korean countries.  Speculation and rumours appear frequently in press coverage. As more details emerge the initial suggestion that an explosives accident was to blame has been abandoned. This is a serious case of geopolitical intrigue. The eventual conclusion is that North Korea had in fact released a deadly torpedo attack on the Cheonan. The UN Security Council are now involved, which conveys the magnitude of the event for the international community.

This summer sees the 10th anniversary of another political minefield ignited by naval events. The Kursk disaster involved the sinking of the Russian fleet’s most advanced submarine following an undersea explosion. Following the loss of the Kursk the Russian government’s reaction was enigmatic, especially considering 118 sailors had been killed.  Despite question marks over the political motivations which could have prompted the disaster, the generally accepted scenario is that the Kursk’s fate was down to its “own torpedo mishap”; at least, this is the version of events according to the all-knowing Wikipedia.

A French documentary aims to uncover the truth behind the PR mask. Kursk: A Submarine in Troubled Waters is a persuasive piece of film-making providing an in-depth look at the consequences of the event, encompassing politics, media and personal tragedy. The film’s position certainly isn’t neutral, but the evidence is convincing and it is easy to believe that there is far more going on behind the scenes than the public gets to see.  The film is available for viewing on the jtd website here.

Kursk highlights the extent to which the former President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, controlled the event’s outfall.  One of the most disturbing moments in the film is the statement that had the situation worsened between Russia and the USA, the world could have been facing a conflict on the scale of a third World War, and this time it would be nuclear. To get a sense of the historical and political background from the Cold War to the present day, have a look at the jtd title The Putin System which charts his rise to power and puts things into perspective.

Russia looked to their President for decisive action and were left wanting

It is very interesting to acknowledge the parallels between the Kursk and the murky tragedy of the Cheonan. The more recent crisis again seems to be a dramatic turning point for geopolitical relations. North and South Korea are in fact technically still at war, having only signed an armistice (rather than an official peace treaty) back in 1953. A report by the BBC conveys the extent to which the relationship between the two countries continues to be strained, particularly in light of the Cheonan’s sinking, and can be viewed here. This film displays examples of military officials dodging responsibility and evading the truth, as Kursk does, and one wonders just how much is being hidden below the political surface.

South Africa has had a media makeover. The nation is currently riding high on its triumphant hosting of one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar, the football World Cup. Amongst the guaranteed reams of newspaper analysis and hours of in-depth television punditry, coverage was also dedicated to the social impact of hosting the event.

Given its generally negative perception as a violent and strife-ridden society, South Africa had been a controversial choice for World Cup host, but the competition came and went without major incident. The football community breathed a sigh of relief, and a positive lasing legacy now seems possible with tourism and industry getting a much need boost.

Sport and politics, a force to be reckoned with?

The arts provide a wide scope for exploring what it means to be a modern, progressive South Africa, and films in particular are an important medium for expressing both the darkness and light at the heart of a recovering nation. The country is proving itself to be a burgeoning player in the film market, with the 31st Durban International Film Festival (22nd July-1 August) screening nine world premieres of South African feature films and an extensive documentary programme proclaiming “a sharp insight into a spectrum of African realities”. One such insight is Connie Field’s Have You Heard From Johannesburg?: Fairplay, part of a series charting recent history, which illuminates how sporting boycotts during apartheid stimulated political change. It’s a topical reminder of the influence sport can have on a culture’s social fabric.

The festival has also secured the significant honour of being the focus of the World Cinema Fund’s Spotlight Series, an association set up by the Berlin International Film Festival to support countries in transition.

It’s another small but hugely positive step in gradually changing the world’s view of how South Africa is judged by the rest of the world.

Durban’s full line-up can be viewed here.

Ziman's South Africa is far from the hopes and dreams of World Cup 2010

This summer also sees the 12th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival come to Cape Town and Johannesburg. It showcases its own spotlight on South Africa, with documentaries from both international and home-grown directorial talents presenting their perspectives on the tangled, yet vibrant society.  Clifford Bestall’s The 16th Man is the real-life story that Clint Eastwood’s recent Invictus was inspired by. This time Nelson Mandela plays himself in his incredible mission to heal a divided nation surrounding the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

But should we exercise caution before celebrating South Africa’s political and social renaissance? This week’s feature release Gangster’s Paradise: Jerusalema is a timely reminder of the realities facing so many of the post-apartheid generation. Set in Johannesburg’s most dangerous neighbourhood, the all too believable tale underlines the extent to which organised crime has become the norm in the notorious district of Hillbrow.  An interview with director Ralph Ziman asks questions regarding the film’s effect on South Africa’s current optimism.  His diplomatic response seems reasonable amongst the glitz of the film festival circuit, as the research the film is based upon proves there is still a lot of work to be done.