Review of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) by Roy S — 18 Jan 2014

Better than I feared. For the most part hagiographic, but at least brings in a couple of flaws. It will no doubt be shown in classrooms for years to come. I also worried about how Winnie would be presented, and though she is cleaned up she has not quite been sanitized (thank God).

Her presence is still too large, but the filmmakers probably felt she was needed to fill in some action while Nelson was spending thirty years turning big rocks into little ones. It unfortunately ends with his election.

To me his leadership without retaliation or vengeance and his voluntary relinquishing of power is what really made him great, and made him so unusual; particularly in Africa.