Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Movie Review

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom | Image source: www.themoviedb.org

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is released on December 25, 2013
This movie genres is Drama History .

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Overview

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.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Movie Review

Written by DanDare on February 24, 2017

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.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Movie Review | Image source: www.themoviedb.org

The movie certificate: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Films given this rating may contain sexual content, brief or partial nudity, some strong language and innuendo, humor, mature themes, political themes, terror and/or intense action violence. However, bloodshed is rarely present. This is the minimum rating at which drug content is present.