Review of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) by Robert W — 27 Dec 2013

I understand what the critics are saying when they talk about the jumpiness of this movie. I also get that Nelson Mandela's entire life is not something that could be explained In one movie that was released so soon after his passing.

It's because of that inability to properly express such a subject as Nelson Mandela (not to mention Apartheid in South Africa) that I found this movie to be a great justice to Mr.Mandela.

The scene would often cut suddenly forward in time or over to protests or newsreels.

It was an appropriate style choice. It allows the film to express the man's life rather than retell his story.

There's a scene in particular, when Mandela and his wife are both in prison. Mandela, his cell and his wife in solitary. it's shot as if they are back to back.

Another scene towards the end of the movie intercuts a dream scene from the beginning of the movie. bringing a sense of circular closure to the movie.

At the end of the movie the entire audience stood still. like we had our breath held then the first credit rolled by and we burst into applause. it took a long time for anyone to leave the theater. Like we didn't want to face a world without nelson mandela, so soon after getting to know who he was.