VIDEO: Movie review – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)

MANY actors have portrayed Nelson Mandela in just as many movies about the life of the international icon, but none quite as compellingly as Idris Elba in “Long Walk to Freedom”, a 2013 film based on Mandela’s 1995 autobiography of the same name.

The British actor captures the absolute essence of Mandela in a gripping portrayal of the struggle icon, offering a deeper insight into the man widely regarded as a saint by bringing forth the human side of the legendary political activist and freedom fighter.

The film begins in the rolling hills of the Transkei with a young Nelson Mandela being initiated in a rite of passage to manhood and quickly moves ahead to his life as a shrewd and skillful lawyer, defending a black domestic worker in court, who has been accused of stealing her white employer’s underwear. With the employer on the stand, Mandela’s line of questioning appears reasonable, but the reaction of the woman encapsulates all that was wrong with Apartheid South Africa as she storms off in a rage, disgusted by the concept of being questioned by a black man. The case is thrown out.

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At this point, Mandela has no interest when he is approached to join the ANC. This changes when a black man is arrested for not carrying his ‘pass’ and is subsequently beaten to death in police custody. Mandela is outraged when the man’s cause of death, despite glaring medical evidence to prove otherwise, is ruled as “congenital syphilis”.

He becomes involved in the ANC struggle and meets Winnie Madikizela, played to perfection by Naomie Harris, and begins an extra-marital affair with her which leads to the break-up of his marriage to his first wife, Evelyn Mase, who subsequently leaves him.

“I believe you have many girlfriends,” says a young Winnie to Nelson Mandela, as they embrace upon a picnic blanket on a dry, grassy plain. “I’m different…” she whispers in his ear, and the relationship blossoms from there, with the spirited and fiery young woman proving her words to be true.

The film explores the relationship and subsequent marriage between Nelson and Winnie, while exposing the struggles of black people in the Apartheid era and the effects of Mandela’s devotion to the cause, on his relationship with his wife and his eventual arrest.

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Elba’s portrayal of Madiba never once falters as he transitions between being the feisty young lawyer, political activist and ladies’ man, to the greying and wiser political prisoner on Robben Island, alongside other political prisoners and wardens of the day, to secret negotiations with FW de Klerk’s cabinet and his unconditional release granted by the president, followed by his own rise to the presidency of South Africa.

“Long Walk to Freedom”, in its final scenes, shows the disintegration of Nelson’s relationship with Winnie after his realisation that her ideals are far different to his. In his quest for a peaceful country, he discovers she is encouraging violence and questions her loyalty. They divorce.

Directed by Justin Chadwick, Long Walk to Freedom offers a not-often-seen, relatively well-balanced view of Apartheid South Africa and delves into the life, love, infamy, fame, incredible intellect and rise of Nelson Mandela. The fact that Mandela is illustrated so exquisitely as a man without the proverbial pedestal, offers a deeper understanding as to why he was eventually placed upon it by not just an entire nation, but the world as a whole.

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Nelson Mandela.