SPLICED MOVIES /
REVIEW / MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM
with the long years of separation
while he was imprisoned meant that
their approach to politics became
understandably divided, and we feel
Winnie’s pain and follow her own
personal struggle along with Madiba’s.
ISSUE 02
NELSON MANDELA
18 July 1918 - 5 December 2013
Long Walk to Freedom while
emotional and relatively accurate in
its portrayal of the events that defined
Mandela’s life is not perfect however.
Certain major political figures make
no more than a cursory appearance,
and there are specific events that are
glossed over in an attempt at brevity
that could have been addressed in a
more detailed and accurate manner.
It makes them no less powerful, but
taking a moment to allow the gravity of
the Soweto riots to sink in for example,
wouldn’t have gone astray.
Makeup at times also broke the
suspension of disbelief, particularly in
scenes on Robben Island where we got
a sense of time passing and Mandela
aging. Elba’s skin looked too smooth
at points, as if he was wearing a mask,
and this marred the production value of
what was otherwise an excellent film.
For all its faults, Mandela: Long Walk
to Freedom is still a powerful and well
executed portrayal of the life of South
Africa’s most beloved political leader.
It will bring tears to your eyes and joy
to your heart in equal measures, and in
light of his recent death I have no doubt
it will inspire movie goers the world over
with its portrayal of the life of one of the
world’s most influential leaders.
Idris Elba almost
didn’t make it to the
premiere of the movie
in South Africa after
he was hospitalised
following an asthma
attack the day before
the red carpet event.
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VERDICT
As South Africa mourns his
passing, Nelson Mandela’s
story is immortalised for a new
generation. Long Walk to Freedom
has its faults but it captures the spirit
of a beloved world figure.