Apartheid movies and TV shows
The list contains the best, new and most relevant apartheid movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out serious, realistic, political, thought provoking, captivating and emotional films and TV shows about / with apartheid, society, racism, politics, interracial relations, violence, afrikaans, life is a bitch, hopes and prison plots mostly in Drama, Biography and History genres shot in South Africa, UK, USA and other countries.
77
TOP 10 movies tagged as apartheid: Goodbye Bafana (2007), Cry Freedom (1987), Skin (2008), Red Dust (2004), Endgame (2009), Cry, the Beloved Country (1995), Escape From Pretoria (2020), Zulu (2013), The Power of One (1992), Kanarie (2018).
Best films
New films
| Escape From Pretoria (2020) | 6.8 | |
| Kanarie (2018) | 7.5 | |
| Winnie Mandela (2011) | 6.1 | |
| Silverton Siege (2022) | 6.3 | |
| Ajami (2009) | 7.2 |
List of apartheid movies
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, UK, South Africa, Luxembourg
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
The true story of a white South African racist whose life was profoundly altered by the black prisoner he guarded for twenty years. The prisoner's name was Nelson Mandela.
Style:
uplifting, serious, realistic, touching, political ...
Plot:
apartheid, prison life, racism, racial violence, leadership, interracial relations, politics, freedom fighter, friendship, fighting the system, rebellion, self discovery ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, 90s, 70s
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, Zimbabwe, USA
Duration: 157 min.
Story:
A dramatic story, based on actual events, about the friendship between two men struggling against apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s. Donald Woods is a white liberal journalist in South Africa who begins to follow the activities of Stephen Biko, ...
Style:
inspirational, political, cult classic, edutainment, political thriller ...
Plot:
racism, apartheid, politics, journalism, biopic, human rights, civil rights, social injustice, social commentary, black, african, friendship ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, year 1987, year 1975, year 1977
Place:
south africa, africa, cape town south africa, england
Is relevant?
4K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, South Africa
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
Based on the true story of a black girl who was born to two white Afrikaner parents in South Africa during the apartheid era.
Style:
sincere, touching, captivating, emotional, contemplative ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
forbidden love, racism, interracial relations, self discovery, human spirit, eccentric family, family problems, couples, society, social misfits, hopes, love and romance ...
Time:
year 2008, 20th century, 60s, 50s, 70s ...
Place:
south africa, africa, johannesburg south africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, South Africa
Duration: 110 min.
Story:
Sarah Barcant, a lawyer in New York City who grew up in South Africa, returns to her childhood dwelling place to intercede for Alex Mpondo, a Black South African politician who was tortured during apartheid.
Style:
realistic, serious, captivating, sincere, cult classic ...
Plot:
apartheid, missing person, politics, courtroom drama, state affairs, rivalry, haunted by the past, injustice, life is a bitch, law enforcement, society, courtroom ...
Time:
year 2004, 21st century
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, History
Country: UK, South Africa
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
The time is the late '80s, a crucial period in the history of South Africa. President P.W. Botha is hanging on to power by a thread as the African National Congress (ANC) takes up arms against apartheid and the country tumbles toward ...
Style:
thought provoking, captivating, tense, serious, sincere ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
politics, terrorist, danger, rebellion, hopes, siege, revolution, unlikely partners, life is a bitch, fighting the system, folk hero, leadership ...
Time:
20th century, 80s, 90s
Place:
africa, south africa, england, europe, cape town south africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: South Africa, USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
A South-African preacher goes to search for his wayward son who has committed a crime in the big city.
Style:
touching, political, thought provoking, captivating, bleak ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
apartheid, racism, interracial relations, self discovery, politics, racial tension, priest, third world, racial discrimination, afrikaans, narration, psychology ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, post world war two, year 1946, 19th century
Place:
south africa, africa, johannesburg south africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Biography, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK, Australia, USA, South Africa, Germany
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
South Africa, 1978. Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, two white political activists from the African National Congress imprisoned by the apartheid regime, put a plan in motion to escape from the infamous Pretoria Prison…
Style:
political, suspense, tense, atmospheric, dramatic ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
prison, apartheid, prison escape, escape, political prisoner, political activism, political activist, politics, human spirit, prison break, rebelliousness, political persecution ...
Time:
year 1979, 70s, 20th century
Place:
south africa, africa, cape town south africa, adelaide south australia, australia ...
Is relevant?
21K
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: France, South Africa
Duration: 110 min.
Story:
As a child, Ali Neuman narrowly escaped being murdered by Inkhata, a militant political party at war with Nelson Mandela's African National Congress. Only he and his mother survived the carnage of those years. But as with many survivors, the ...
Style:
realistic, suspenseful, serious, tense, disturbing ...
Plot:
police investigation, apartheid, gang war, racism, society, law enforcement, police detective, atrocity, haunted by the past, partner, violent content, spy ...
Time:
year 2013, year 1978, 21st century
Place:
south africa, africa, cape town south africa, namibia
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: France, Germany, Australia, USA
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
PK, an English orphan terrorized for his family's political beliefs in Africa, turns to his only friend, a kindly world-wise prisoner, Geel Piet. Geel teaches him how to box with the motto “fight with your fists and lead with your heart”. ...
Style:
touching, intense, realistic, serious, uplifting ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
boxing, bullying, friendship, apartheid, hopes, youth, racism, world war two, discrimination, injustice, orphan, society ...
Time:
20th century, 1940s, 1930s
Place:
africa, south africa, johannesburg south africa
Is relevant?
779
Genre: Drama, Musical, War
Country: South Africa
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
Kanarie (Afrikaans for 'Canary') is a coming-of-age musical war drama. Drafted into the South African army during apartheid, a young soldier joins the military's traveling choir, and romance on the battlefield causes him to deal with ...
Style:
sexy, melancholic, touching, sentimental, sincere ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
gay, lgbt, gay interest, male nudity, apartheid, gay relationship, gay slur, male homosexuality, choir, homosexuality, gay lead character, military service ...
Time:
80s, year 1985
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, France, South Africa, USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
The true story of anti-apartheid activists in South Africa, and particularly the life of Patrick Chamusso, a timid foreman at Secunda CTL, the largest synthetic fuel plant in the world. Patrick is wrongly accused, imprisoned and tortured for an ...
Style:
tense, political, emotional, thought provoking, factual ...
Plot:
terrorism, politics, racism, apartheid, rebellion, fighting the system, civil rights, police brutality, visceral, ethnic conflict, political unrest, social problems ...
Time:
20th century, 80s, year 2006, year 1991, year 1980 ...
Place:
south africa, africa, angola
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, France, South Africa
Duration: 141 min.
Story:
A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
Style:
emotional, inspirational, serious, realistic, political ...
Plot:
rebellion, apartheid, prison, prison life, civil rights, political repression, racism, biopic, politics, brutality, human spirit, courage ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, year 2013, 1950s, 80s ...
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: South Africa, USA
Duration: 103 min.
Story:
Steph, an Afrikaner, struggles with his past and heritage in the new South Africa. When his girlfriend befriends a black South African man called Vusisizwe trouble brews.
Style:
serious, realistic, crying, tragic
Plot:
tragic romance, black man white woman relationship, apartheid, passion, naked woman, love triangle, soldier, friends, couples, friendship, society, love and romance ...
Time:
90s, year 1994, 70s, 80s
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: UK, Ireland, South Africa
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
An American reporter and an Afrikaans poet meet and fall in love while covering South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings.
Style:
thought provoking, serious, emotional, sincere, political thriller ...
Plot:
apartheid, politics, journalism, hopes, interracial relations, african american, social decay, injustice, life is a bitch, idealism, society, racism ...
Time:
year 2004, 90s, 20th century, year 1996, year 1995
Place:
south africa, africa, chile, florida
Is relevant?
170
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK, France, South Africa
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
Three female friends, in the end of the eighties, share a house in Johannesburg, South Africa. Each of them has her own way to live the apartheid. Thoko is a black teacher, she practices non-violent passive resistance. The afrikaner Aninka takes ...
Style:
independent film, crying
Plot:
terrorist, passion, apartheid, afrikaans, nudity, fight, children, ex husband ex wife relationship, dream, accidental death, terrorism, death of husband ...
Time:
year 1985, year 1989, year 1990
Place:
south africa, johannesburg south africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: South Africa
Duration: 77 min.
Story:
"Tenth of a Second" is the account of one man's desperate attempt to fight the oppressive apartheid regime of South Africa. This political thriller centres around Michael Wilder (James Whyle), a schoolteacher and political activist, ...
Style:
suspenseful, political thriller, psychological thriller, dark, grim ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
apartheid, guilt, terrorism, bomb, political oppression, social injustice, identity crisis, trauma, moral ambiguity, desperation, ethical dilemma, activism ...
Place:
south africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, Zimbabwe
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
A White enclave in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the 1960s. Molly Roth, 13 years old, is the daughter of leftist parents, and she must piece together what's happening around her when her father disappears one night, barely evading arrest, and, ...
Style:
independent film, political, retro, cult classic, realistic ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
racism, mother daughter relationship, politics, prison, police raid, dancing, 13 year old, suicide attempt, child's point of view, twist the dance, coming of age, friendship between girls ...
Time:
60s, year 1963
Place:
south africa, africa, johannesburg south africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Horror
Country: South Africa
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
Combining a new age black maid, blood-drinking zombie racists and a plot to poison the town with blood cakes, what ensues is a dark comedy that pits the forces of fascism against the redeeming power of true love and home cooking…
Style:
serious, scary, slasher, psychotronic, splatter
Plot:
vampire, racism, blood, apartheid, deadly creature, supernatural, dark humor, gory, discrimination, society, stepmother stepson relationship, flashback ...
Time:
90s
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Biography, Drama, Thriller
Country: South Africa
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
Solomon Mahlangu is a Mamelodi township schoolboy-hawker who, after the events of June 16th joins the military wing of the ANC to fight against the brutal oppression of the Apartheid regime and ends up becoming an icon of South Africa's ...
Style:
historical drama, thought provoking, captivating, disturbing, intense ...
Plot:
oppression, freedom fighter, social injustice, apartheid, police brutality, resistance movement, racial injustice, biopic, social activism, fighting the system, historical figure, social issues ...
Time:
70s
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Netherlands, Germany, South Africa
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
Confronted by Apartheid and a father who was Minister of Censorship, Ingrid Jonker searched for a home, searched for love. With men like Jack Cope and André Brink she found much love, but no home. Later, in his first speech to the South African ...
Style:
sexy, realistic, serious, emotional, captivating ...
Plot:
apartheid, writers, fighting the system, writer's life, estrangement, family relations, lifestyle, downfall, parents and children, bittersweet, society, poet ...
Time:
20th century, 60s
Place:
africa, south africa, paris france, europe
Is relevant?
326
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Canada
TV show
Story:
A dramatization of Nelson Mandela's struggle to overturn apartheid in South Africa.
Style:
political, dramatic, serious, realistic, period piece ...
Plot:
apartheid, racism, struggle, oppression, racial injustice, biopic, fight for justice, fight, fighting the system, ambition, society, racial segregation ...
Time:
60s, 70s, 80s
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine both received Emmy nominations for their performances in this made-for-TV movie. The plot follows Nelson Mandela's 27-year struggle to end apartheid.
Style:
contemplative, serious, realistic, uplifting, captivating ...
Plot:
apartheid, racism, prison, discrimination, house arrest, social change, biopic, righting the wronged, injustice, politics, rebellion, heroes ...
Time:
20th century, 70s, 80s, 60s
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
284
Genre: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 135 min.
Story:
Nelson Mandela becomes South Africa's first Black President, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in negotiating a bloodless revolution in that country.
Style:
historical drama, political, inspirational, thought provoking, serious ...
Plot:
apartheid, racial segregation, biopic, racial injustice, prison, civil rights, activism, legacy, human rights, resilience, leadership, reconciliation ...
Time:
20th century
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Country: South Africa, UK
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
Moffie (a derogatory Afrikaans term for a gay man) follows the story of Nicholas van der Swart: from a very young age, he realises he is different. Try as he may, he cannot live up to the macho image expected of him by his family, by his heritage. ...
Style:
sexy, touching, psychological, contemplative, unusual plot structure ...
Plot:
gay interest, gay relationship, lgbtq, gay slur, closeted gay, gay lead character, gay love, gay soldier, gay, military, homosexuality, soldier ...
Time:
80s, 2000s, year 1981
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
622K
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Germany, UK, South Africa, India
Duration: 143 min.
Story:
An ex-mercenary turned smuggler. A Mende fisherman. Amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone, these men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman's son ...
Style:
serious, captivating, thought provoking, intense, emotional ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
civil war, treasure hunt, gem, mercenary, smuggling, greed, revolution, mining, rebel, journalism, life changing, rescue ...
Time:
year 2006, 90s, year 2003, 20th century, year 1999 ...
Place:
africa, sierra leone, zimbabwe, south africa, angola ...
Is relevant?
32K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK, South Africa
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
The South African multi-award winning film about a young South African boy from the ghetto named Tsotsi, meaning Gangster. Tsotsi, who left home as a child to get away from helpless parents, finds a baby in the back seat of a car that he has just ...
Style:
sincere, harsh, captivating, rough, art house ...
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
redemption, baby, urban ghetto life, poverty, criminal, slum, gang, childhood, friendship, street life, murder, coming of age ...
Time:
2000s, 21st century
Place:
south africa, africa, johannesburg south africa, boston
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min.
Story:
After a slave uprising, 10 black mistresses of a white landowner decide to capture their master after he refuses to turn over his ill-gained wealth.
Style:
tense, intense, dark, brutal, political
Plot:
revenge, torture, exploitation, bondage, apartheid, mature, violence, trial, african, oppression, retribution, justice ...
Time:
90s
Place:
africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy
Country: USA, South Africa
Duration: 84 min.
Story:
In the world of stand-up comedy in South Africa, Trevor Noah uses his childhood experiences in a biracial family during apartheid to prepare for his first one-man show.
Style:
humorous, reflective, satirical, witty, ironic ...
Plot:
stand up comedy, live performance, interracial relations, apartheid, autobiography, social commentary, engagement, political satire, intimate, coming of age, childhood, family relations ...
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
485
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: South Africa, Canada
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
Amandla is an anti-apartheid resistance slogan and means power. Apartheid in South Africa is still in full force when, in 1987, the two brothers Impi and Nkosana grew up on a farm as the sons of servants. The white owners are liberal people who ...
Style:
tense, crime drama, psychological, captivating, disturbing ...
Plot:
justice, brothers, police officer, afrikaans, criminal, love, violence, social injustice, power, racial tension, racism, tragedy ...
Time:
80s
Place:
south africa, africa
Is relevant?
328
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
An emotional and thrilling tale of life and death behind the walls of a maximum security prison. From the acclaimed director of 'Bonnie and Clyde', and featuring a powerful international cast.
Style:
independent film, talky, captivating, tense, thought provoking ...
Plot:
prison, retribution, apartheid, political prisoner, prisoner, politics, racism, disintegration, fighting the system, uninhibited rivalry, dishonesty, rivalry ...
Time:
year 1996, 80s
Place:
south africa, africa, johannesburg south africa
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
