Today Nelson Mandela died at 95 years old! His legacy as a leader and humanitarian will forever live on. With the people of his country, South Africa, and everyone who he came in contact with. Their have been to movies to celebrate his life and and his achievements as a leader and patriot of his country.
The first was Clint Eastwood’s Invictus that came out in 2009. Its about the 1995 Rugby World Cup, held in South Africa. In a time where Nelson Mandela has just been released from a 27 year prison sentence for his fight against apartheid. Instead of taking revenge on his captures he instead embraces in his country when he elected Prime Minister. The first thing he does is try and get The Rugby World Cup in his country. He then meets with the teams captain and talks to him about how important this team and World Cup is to his their country of South Africa. The Springboks are a rag tag group of men but, Mandela has faith in them because he needs to. This team is his countries only hope of unity. Matt Damon plays the captain of the team Francois Pienaar. He really doesn’t understand whats going on but he goes with what Mandela wants. The Springboks start to play above there talent level because they know whats on the line. Morgan Freeman give an Oscar worthy portrayal of Nelson Mandela and Clint Eastwood is at the top of his game with this rousing true story of sports triumph!
The second movie about Nelson Mandela is simply called Mandela; A Long Walk to Freedom and its out now in limited release. It stars Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela and Naomie Harris as his wife Winnie Madikizela. Elba portray’s Mandela in his younger years. Before his fight for apartheid. He eventually becomes the face of the people at the front of this fight and is put in prison for his cause. Eventually he gets out of prison and is the first democratically elected President of South Africa. A famous quote from Mandela in the film is uttered with great power by Elba ” It is an ideal of which I am prepared to die” Nelson Mandela. Justin Chadwick does a great job showing the struggle of Nelson and Winnie and there children. Along with the great score and over all story of this incredible man and his fight this is a wonderful movie to see.
Nelson Mandela’s death was announced at the world premier of Mandela and he himself did indorse it as a great telling of his and his families life.
Dan ‘Skip’ Allen
From the Fourth Row! 