Character Relationship Map: Escape from Pretoria

Characters

• Tim Jenkin (played by Daniel Radcliffe) — protagonist

  A white South African anti-apartheid activist sentenced to twelve years. He meticulously analyzes the prison system, steals wood shop items to craft wooden keys for cell locks, and leads the escape pl...

• Stephen Lee (played by Daniel Webber) — protagonist

  A white South African anti-apartheid activist sentenced to eight years. He collaborates closely with Jenkin in daily prison routines, assists in hiding keys in the garden, and successfully executes th...

• Denis Goldberg (played by Ian Hart) — supporting

  An older political prisoner serving four life sentences who mentors the newcomers. Though initially discouraging escape, he ultimately aids Jenkin, Lee, and Fontaine by short-circuiting his cell light...

• Leonard (played by Mark Leonard Winter) — supporting

  A fellow prisoner who joins Jenkin and Lee in planning and testing the escape route. During the final breakout, he successfully forces open the last locked door using a chisel and screwdriver after th...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Denis Goldberg → Leonard (Power Senior Prisoner) — Goldberg occupies a senior position within the prison community.

  Goldberg is an older political prisoner who discusses the escape proposal with Leonard and the other prisoners.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Denis Goldberg → Tim Jenkin (related)
• Stephen Lee → Tim Jenkin (related)
• Stephen Lee → Leonard (Alliance Escape Teammate) — They cooperate as members of the escaping trio.

  Lee presents the escape plan with Tim and Leonard, then leaves the prison alongside Leonard during the final breakout.

• Denis Goldberg → Stephen Lee (Social Mentor) — He advises Lee while initially opposing the escape plan.

  Goldberg shows the newcomers how prison works and warns them against attempting an escape.

• Tim Jenkin → Denis Goldberg (Social Mentor) — Goldberg provides experience and guidance to the younger prisoners.

  Goldberg is an older political prisoner who shows Tim and Lee the ropes of prison life.

• Tim Jenkin → Leonard (Alliance Escape Partner) — Leonard becomes a core member of Tim's escape group.

  Tim discusses escape plans with Leonard, conducts a test run with him, and escapes with him during the final operation.

• Tim Jenkin → Stephen Lee (Alliance Teammate) — They are the central escape partners and political collaborators.

  The two are arrested during the same anti-apartheid mission and later plan and execute the prison escape together.

Story Analysis

Anti-apartheid prisoners transform careful preparation, solidarity, and improvisation into a successful escape and continued political resistance.

Plot Progression

1. Arrested For Resistance — Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee conduct anti-apartheid work before being arrested and sentenced. Their arrival at Pretoria Prison introduces the harsh system they must overcome.
2. Keys In The Shadows — Tim studies the prison and begins making wooden keys from stolen wood shop materials. Lee and Leonard join the preparation, while keys are hidden in the garden.
3. Testing The Impossible — Tim and Leonard test the route and narrowly avoid discovery. The construction of a new gun tower raises the pressure, but the trio continues despite other prisoners declining to join.
4. The Night Breakout — The trio gathers the hidden keys and disguises themselves in street clothes. Goldberg creates a blackout and distracts the guard, but the final door resists every key.
5. Freedom And Resistance — Leonard forces open the last door, allowing the three prisoners to escape through Africa to London. They continue their anti-apartheid work, receive pardons, and witness the end of apartheid.