Harrowing and compelling, this documentary has won several international awards and with good reason.

It focuses on the struggle of Mike Campbell, a white Zimbabwean farmer, to keep ownership of his property in the face of state-sponsored oppression.

The shocking nature of some of the scenes is heightened by the frank way in which they are reported, and the calm, dignified attitude of the Campbell family.

Much of the film was shot covertly, capturing the brutality of everyday situations in a no-holds-barred manner.

'Mugabe and the White African' takes us into the heart of Robert Mugabe's racist policy to evict all white farmers from their land, destroying the 'breadbasket' of Africa and lives of workers in the process.

The atmosphere of menace the film successfully portrays is offset by footage capturing the beauty of the Zimbabwean countryside.

Since Mugabe's land redistribution programme was launched in 2000, 4,000 white Zimbabweans have been evicted from their property.

The policy claims all land belongs to the government and will now be redistributed to poor black citizens.

In reality however, black farmers' land remains untouched and plundered property is more likely to go to Mugabe's favoured ministers, judges, election agents, MPs, and even their girlfriends.

It is a system of patronage harking back to Medieval feudal times. And the system of control – intimidation and beatings, is similar to the torture of the Dark Ages.

'Mugabe and the White African' starts filming the ordeal of the Campbell family from December 2007, as they launch their legal battle.

Mr. Campbell, 75, is one of the few white Zimbabwean farmers left and is determined to fight for his farm.

In a David and Goliath-type confrontation, he takes on Mugabe and his government for violation of his human rights, at the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) international court in Namibia.

Mr. Campbell's lawyers claim the Zimbabwean President has no right to take land bought legitimately from the government.

Although the Mount Carmel fruit farm has a court order protecting it from invasion, lawlessness reigns throughout the country, at the hands of the Zanu-PF militia.

Mr. Campbell describes the case as "the last chance" for white Zimbabwean farmers to stay in their homeland. And as an employer of 500 farm workers he feels responsible for the lives of many families.

The family's legal team argue their case is one of racial discrimination. If they succeed in the landmark case it will protect their property and that of others, as the Zimbabwe government will be unable to acquire land through act of law.

With the land redistribution programme declared technically illegal, this will also allow evicted white landowners to return.

Farcical scenes ensue however, as Mugabe's lawyers do everything in their power to prevent the case from being heard.

Following almost a year of adjournments, when the case finally comes to court Mugabe's lawyers actually walk out of the courtroom.

Meanwhile, over the course of this year Mr. Campbell and his family carry out the daily farm activities in the face of threats of violence.

At one point Peter Chamada, Minister Nathan Shamuyarira's son, rolls up in a shiny new Toyota Prado, talking about how white land is to be redistributed to the "black poor majority".

"I'm here for my land and I should take it. It was given to me four years ago," he says. "I want you out."

We also see footage of a neighbouring farm seized by Zanu PF militia. A family who have lived there for 100 years suddenly have all their furniture and possessions dumped outside as the land is taken by force. Their only option is to leave.

In June 2008 Mugabe wins the Zimbabwean elections and the violence worsens.

With just two weeks to go before the reconvening of the SADC international court of human rights, Mr. Campbell, his wife Angela and son-in-law Ben Freeth are then abducted and beaten.

We see them in hospital, bloodied and bruised. Mr. Campbell's fingers are broken and his wife has a broken arm.

Mr. Freeth meanwhile has a fractured skull and blood clot. Despite this, he manages to attend the SADC hearing in Namibia, bandaged and in a wheelchair.

Months later, the SADC deliver their verdict.

You will have to watch this moving documentary to see if justice and the rule of law ultimately prevail.

'Mugabe and the White African' was shortlisted for the 2010 Academy Awards. The film was the Winner of Best Documentary in the 2009 British Independent Film Awards and won the Grand Jury Prize of the 2009 Silver Docs Documentary Festival.

'Mugabe and the White African', Tradewinds Auditorium of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute at 2 p.m. tomorrow.