Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

2013

PG-13

2h 21m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

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A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

Directors

Justin Chadwick

Writers

William Nicholson(screenplay by)

Stars

Idris Elba

Naomie Harris

Tony Kgoroge

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Videos2

Trailer
Watch Mandela - Official Trailer - Pathe
Teaser
Watch Official Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom UK Teaser Trailer

Top cast

Nelson Mandela

Winnie Madikizela

Walter Sisulu

Ahmed Kathrada

Govan Mbeki

Chief Warder

James Gregory

Zindzi Mandela

Evelyn Mase

Kobie Coetzee

Elias Motsoaledi

Raymond Mhlaba

Andrew Miageni

Colonel Badenhorst

President de Klerk

Nelson Mandela 16-23

Policeman on Train

Nosekeni

Directors

Justin Chadwick

Writers

William Nicholson(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Mandela: Long walk to Freedom is a straightforward biography which condenses Nelson Mandela's life without too many metaphors which pervades biopics these days. However at times too much of Mandela's life seems to be rushed through and other associates in the ANC's struggle to end apartheid are sidelined or entirely absent. We first see Mandela as the young ambitious lawyer and a ladies man as well. Pretty soon he is married with children and involved heavily with the African National Congress. He divorces his first wife and then we switch to Mandela in his 40s when he meets Winnie who he married. Mandela is then arrested for terrorism and imprisoned in Robben island. It is only during imprisonment we see the divergence in Nelson and and Winnie's life. Because of her mistreatment by the police Winnie becomes more extreme in her struggle and resorts to violent means to end apartheid. The older Mandela is in secret talks with the government and opts for a peaceful way to unite South Africa. Idris Elba relishes the opportunity to play the great man. He gets the voice right but I thought he was far more comfortable as the older Nelson Mandela. Naomi Harris also comes across better as the older and more bitter Winnie Mandela. If you want to know more about Nelson Mandela then this is the film for you.

DanDare24 Feb, 2017