No one could unite our nation to the extent that Nelson Mandela has so it comes as no surprise that a movie sharing the most memorable moments on his journey to becoming our first democratic president would receive such praise and recognition the world over. Anant Singh’s ambitious Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom was recently released in South African theatres and could not have been released at a more apt time when the world shares a common, binding grief.
The film spans a half-century journey of a man set to be immortalised as the father of South African democracy. Now, there have been many movies about Mandela so what makes this different? Well, for one – Singh has spent a good 20 years bringing this story to life with a $35 million dollar budget backing a considerable 2 and a half hour long story with an uncharacteristically large South African supporting cast.
We are taken through the streets, country sides, courts, prisons and rural homes of South Africa as we make our way through the milestones of Mandela’s life. We’re given an often intimate look at how this man develops into a global icon and the decisions that led him there. The problem with taking on this much history including such rich moments like the Sharpeville massacre, Soweto uprising and first democratic elections is that it begins to feel a little superficial. I don’t mean that the plot is superficial because it’s not, but because such consequential moments like these feel rushed and lose its magnitude due to the flash highlights that just feel too rushed. It is, however, understandable considering how much material there was to work with.
There are many great achievements in this film, most notably from Idris Elba (Nelson Mandela), who commands the screen and gives an incredibly convincing performance especially with his flawless accent. Naomie Harris (Winnie Mandela) struggled a bit with her accent but did provide a very sympathetic performance. What this film did brilliantly was contrast the lives of this couple, showcasing the fact that they both experienced two very different South Africas and therefore had two very different political stances. The film also captured the man people tend to forget. The man who was flawed. It was surprising to note that Mandela was quite the player in his day. The movie also highlighted his involvement in what was violent activism, his crumbling marriages as well as the decision-making and meetings he had that weren’t condoned by his peers.
My brother said that a Scot who watched Braveheart will interpret it very differently from someone who isn’t privy to its intricate, layered history. It is the same for South Africans who watch this. As a South African, I highly recommend you watching this and having your own interpretation with moments in history that strongly resonate with you personally. While the make-up requires a lot of imagination on the audience’s part and despite the rushed nature of the film, it is an epic tribute to our history and a definite contender at next year’s Academy Awards.
To find out more or to book tickets, visit www.sterkinekor.com or www.numetro.co.za
On a final note – thank you, Mandela for providing us with the opportunity to embrace a constitution we can all be proud of. As a country, we thank you for your pivotal role in transitioning us into becoming a free, democratic Rainbow Nation. But most of all, we thank you for teaching us that the journey to freedom involves sacrifice and forgiveness.
Hamba kahle, Tata Madiba!
