The Long and Winding Road
Film: Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom
Cast: Idris Elba, Naomi Harris
Directed by: Justin Chadwick
Duration: 2 hrs 21 mins
Rating: * * *
Based on the autobiography by Nelson Mandela, director
Justin Chadwick chronicles the life of one of the most revered
personalities of all time. The film was shown at festivals (including the
International Film Festival of India) just before Madiba passed away.
Incidentally, it was Shekhar Kapoor who was supposed to make this film, years
ago.
The chronicles Mandela’s life are fairly we known, especially the fact
that he was jailed for almost 27 years and went on to become the first black
President of South Africa and was also instrumental in ending apartheid in South
Africa.
His story is no doubt a very powerful one but how does the
film fare? Well, it offers a mixed bag. Bio-pics are always tough to do there
is always the question of how much to show and how much to leave out. One of
the best, if not the best biopic of all time is Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi
which was over 3 hours but yet it is one of those films you can watch over and
over again.
Idris Elba plays Nelson Mandela and it begins with his roots
and as a young man how he did his best to help his people as a lawyer. His
first marriage was on the rocks especially after he got involved with Winnie
(Naomi Harris) whom he married later. Mandela’s tryst with the ANC and his
subsequent imprisonment in Robben
Island are all depicted
here.
While the middle portions meander, the grip is again firm
towards the end when he is about to be released from prison to become the
President. Mandela would have perhaps become a more taut motion picture if
it was trimmed a little bit. There are quite a few unnecessary flashbacks and
certainly no one would have missed much if they had omitted showing him put a hand up Winnie's skirt. The editing is lax as there is too much information
in some instances here while other bits seem rushed.
The production values are of high standards considering they
have recreated the settings that span over a few decades. Of the cast, Idris Elba and
puts up a splendid performance and steals the show. Naomi Harris as Winnie Mandela
is apt.
All said and seen, Mandela is watchable because of the
powerful story rather than the depiction of the story.
Published in The Navhind Times on 26th Jan 2014
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