Corridors of Freedom
CORRIDORS OF FREEDOM (1987) Documentary 52 minutes. Directed by Simon Bright.Produced by Ingrid Sinclair. Distribution: 35 mm prints for mobile cinema release in Mozambique and theatrical release in Zimbabwe; TV sales to Channel 4 UK, SBS Australia, DSR Denmark, Portuguese TV, Channel 13 New York USA, German Democratic Republic TV East Germany. A Zimmedia/Trade Films co-production.
At Independence in 1980, Zimbabwe joined the Frontline states of Southern Africa as a member of the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC), constituted to resist apartheid South Africa’s economic and military stranglehold over the region. Member countries (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe), having won the battle for political independence during the 60’s and 70’s, recognised that the only way they could win the struggle for economic liberation cooperation was through cooperation.
Most anti-apartheid films at this time focused on the victims and violent abuses of apartheid. Zimmedia and the regional team who made Corridors of Freedom recognised that another story needed to be told to counter apartheid’s successful propaganda war waged in both regional and international media. (Moor, C. 21) By showing the achievements of the SADCC countries, the film counters the image of Africa as the helpless starving continent often portrayed in the west.