Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – Film Review

It’s tricky to bring the Nelson Mandela story to the screen, thanks to its complex, awkward issues, both personal and political, and to the long saga-length narrative it involves. Nevertheless William Nicholson manages it convincingly and in style.

He bases his fine, literate and moving screenplay on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, telling the story of his life from his childhood in a rural village, via his incarceration for 27 years for acts of violent rebellion against the repressive, racist state, through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa. In between, his first marriage crumbles, and so eventually does his second to a woman he truly loves, Winnie, and has two daughters with.

Though rousing, it’s not a comfortable story in any way and the script doesn’t shirk from tackling its rough edges. Mandela’s treatment of his wives is called into question and his active participation in violent revolt against the state isn’t glossed over. Mandela’s shift from the youthful violent action agitator to peaceful elder statesman, defying both his supporters and his wife, is another awkward aspect to the story.

There’s a huge amount of drama here, and a vast lot of history, and the film’s value is that it offers a fresh look at real-life stories and events you’d either forgotten or never knew in the first place.

Despite looking nothing like him, Idris Elba does a very good fiery job of impersonating Mandela, though he’s more convincing as the young Mandela than the old guy, which seems more like an old man turn. And Naomie Harris gives a firecracker performance as Winnie. She isn’t afraid to seem very tough and edgy as well as sweet and charming. With the spotlight almost always on them, they are pretty much the whole show. Oscar nominations are possible for both of them.

The period reconstructions are mighty impressive, with astonishingly big crowd scenes and convincing detail of the now long-ago past. Justin Chadwick directs urgently and imaginatively, moving the informative and very alive narrative dynamically along. Happily, it’s a story of triumph, of justice over the bad guys, but it’s not a comfortable story for all that. And, although it slightly glosses over some appalling moments of tragedy and offers a happy ending, it’s still quite a gruelling experience.

(C) Derek Winnert 2013 derekwinnert.com