Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there lived a revolution.
This revolution was fought through peaceful means, but that did not work so it became violent, and that too did not work. Finally, the war ended by negotiation. This revolution was televised. First released in 2009, BEHIND THE RAINBOW, a documentary by Jihan El-Tahri, has been screened in South Africa, Egypt and France. It has been screened twice in Nigeria, both times at the iRep Documentary Film Festival, in 2011 and 2017.

BEHIND THE RAINBOW explores the internal conflicts of the African National Congress (ANC) during negotiations to deracialize South Africa, with clear focus on the relationship between Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who devolved from brothers-in-arms to bitter rivals within the same political party.
The two-hour film takes the viewer on a journey through South Africa's political history: We take baby steps at the beginning, as El-Tahri, guest filmmaker at IREP 2017, reveals what we already know about the struggle against apartheid. We pick up pace quickly, delving into details on the ANC that may or may not surprise the audience.

For this viewer, it was a rude shock to realise just how colourful the South African revolution was: Active participation by South Africans of different races and political groups like the United Democratic Front (UDF), and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Grabbing hold of our collective hand, El-Tahri breaks into a gallop - portraying allegations of corruption, underhanded tactics, sackings and assassination.

Produced over a ten-year period, BEHIND THE RAINBOW is a passionate yet non-partisan story told with appropriate amounts of gravitas and humour. It is heavy material. The import of the film is even more apparent when one realizes that most of the footage is El-Tahri's. "I'm a platform for first-hand witnesses," El-Tahri has said. She interviews a range of persons close to the struggle such as Sue Rabkin, Mac Maharaj, Mo Shaik, and Jeremy Cronin, as well as Zuma and Mbeki. It is, however, Victor Moche's candid, common sense narrative that serves as a thread through the film.

As mentioned before, BEHIND THE RAINBOW is heavy - we are even given a quick glimpse of the slain Chris Hani - but El-Tahri successfully produces a film that is easy to watch. Extensive use of personal accounts gives the viewer 360̊ perspective. El-Tahri's shots are basic, practical - no angles trying to be clever - so the story unfolds without distractions.
The rivalry between the two men who would be president also serves to underscore the conflicts that plagued the ANC and South Africa as a country: ethnic violence, the infamous Sunset Clauses; GEAR versus RDP versus BEE; populism versus technocracy; and true power: economic power versus political power.

Perhaps what is most poignant for this viewer is that the fairy tale of the Rainbow Nation, and its ongoing happily-never-after, is essentially the story of every African nation. The gild of wealth and elitism gained more importance than the people's struggle and aspirations: We are all victims to the hope placed in heroes.

By Michaela Moye