History of the Main Complaint (1996)

History of the Main Complaint (1996) poster

History of the Main Complaint is the sixth film [of a] series and is based on twenty-one drawings. It was made shortly after the establishment in South Africa of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, headed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was set up to conduct a series of public hearings into abuses of human rights perpetrated during the apartheid era. The hearings, in which individuals told their stories of personal suffering, were held in order to make reparation for abuse and in the hope of creating reconciliation between peoples. The underlying theme of this film is a (self) recognition of white responsibility. This is played out through a 'medical' investigation into the body of Soho Eckstein, the white property-developing magnate and greedy-capitalist protagonist of most of the preceding films, which provides the starting point for a revelation of conscience. (tate.org.uk)

Director: William Kentridge
Genre: Animation
Runtime: 6 min
Release Date:
Country: South Africa
Original Language: en

Keywords

short film

More Films by Director: William Kentridge
More Films in Genre: Animation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is History of the Main Complaint about?
History of the Main Complaint is the sixth film [of a] series and is based on twenty-one drawings. It was made shortly after the establishment in South Africa of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, headed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was set up to conduct a series of public hearings into abuses of human rights perpetrated during the apartheid era. The hearings, in which individuals told their stories of personal suffering, were held in order to make reparation for abuse and in the hope of creating reconciliation between peoples. The underlying theme of this film is a (self) recognition of white responsibility. This is played out through a 'medical' investigation into the body of Soho Eckstein, the white property-developing magnate and greedy-capitalist protagonist of most of the preceding films, which provides the starting point for a revelation of conscience. (tate.org.uk)
Who directed History of the Main Complaint?
History of the Main Complaint was directed by William Kentridge.
How long is History of the Main Complaint?
History of the Main Complaint has a runtime of 6m (6 minutes).
What genre is History of the Main Complaint?
History of the Main Complaint is a Animation film.
Where was History of the Main Complaint produced?
History of the Main Complaint was produced in South Africa.