To Act A Lie
primary_youtube_id: YWRqivNyzSc
Extract 2
Extract 3
1980s
0:20:00
South Africa
This film investigates the bias of non-South African film directors in their documentary films about South Africa, accusing them of “political and intellectual dishonesty.” Features Christiaan Barnard, the pioneering cardiac surgeon and outspoken opponent of apartheid.
Physical formats available:
VHS,
Mini DV
Digital formats available:
Quicktime (Pro Res)
Audio & visual:
Sound,
Color
Collection
South African Propaganda
(38)
During the apartheid era, the South African Information Service launched a campaign of propaganda and disinformation aimed at the Western powers, which it considered its natural allies against what it called the “Communist onslaught” to take over South Africa.
This campaign was both covert and overt, and ranged from what appeared to be straightforward tourist films to savage attacks on the ANC through a source apparently connected to the South African Information Service. The South African government spent millions of dollars to win support, with most of this effort being directed at the USA, where it had many influential sympathisers of the apartheid regime.
These VHS tapes represent an extremely rare collection of propaganda materials produced by the Information Service.
