Lecture
Professor David Peimer
Saturday 6.06.2026
Professor David Peimer
The Day of the Jackal: Not Just a Political Thriller Film?
Saturday 6.06.2026
How to watch
This lecture starts on 6 June at 5:00pm (UK).
Summary
A bullet, an assassin, the target: President Charles de Gaulle. Set in 1963, Frederick Forsyth’s fascinating novel and its film adaptation capture the turbulent era of the end of French colonisation and the intense Cold War paranoia sweeping through Europe. The chilling efficiency of a nameless contract killer, a cat-and-mouse suspense story full of complicated plots, special agents on the hunt, and the shooting of a leader. But the film is really about an era which has exhausted its illusions, and the beginning of another. Join us as we explore why this film continues to resonate today.
Professor David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published numerous books, including Armed Response: Plays from South Africa and the digital book Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.