Based on the autobiography of the same name, Mandela: Long
Walk To Freedom takes viewers on an
emotional journey that showcases the multifaceted character of the man who would go on to
become South Africa’s first Black President.
Through the effortless talents of Idris Elbra, we witness
Mandela as; a lawyer aiming to defend his people through the court system when
falsely accused of crimes, an ANC activist who partakes in bombing factory’s
and most notoriously, a political prisoner incarcerated for 27+ years, who
remains a fighter for justice even in the face of his greatest sacrifice, which
is being an absent husband and father unable to protect his family.
Leaving the monumental task to his dutiful wife Winnie. It is here super
talented Naomie Harris shines. Conveying the unapologetic strength that was
necessary for Winnie’s survival, in the
midst of suffering abuse at the hands of European oppression in the form of
police officers and doctors, while simultaneously serving as a leader of her
people on the frontlines. With every scene, Harris proves how Winnie’s life story is just as
complex, intriguing and vital to history
as her ex-husband’s.
Even though it is roughly 2.30 hours, Long Walk To Freedom
barely scratches the surface but, as one of the first major UK cinematic
releases of 2014, it does not disappoint
in serving as both a tribute to Madiba and an introduction to apartheid for those (unlike myself) who may not
have not been knowledgeable about the great man or, the racist system and
practices that not so long ago governed over the unrivaled beauty of South
Africa.
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