Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Stars: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Terry Pheto, Robert Hobbs
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela had a remarkable life. After being unjustly imprisoned for nearly three decades, Mandela was released and guided his nation, South Africa, from apartheid to freedom as the country’s first black president. Idris Elba’s portrayal of the beloved Madiba (Mandela’s clan name) has earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. The capable Naomie Harris play Mandela’s second wife, Winnie Madikizela. Mandela’s is a story that bears retelling because it is a testament to not only the power of the human spirit to overcome the worst depravity, but the power of a freedom-loving people to attain what should be every human being’s God-given right: self-determination.
Idris Elba’s magnificent performance separates the man from the myth and reminds us that Mandela suffered from the same human foibles and concerns that afflict us all, but his imperfections did not stop him from accomplishing great things for his people, his country, and the world. –p.d. lee
Opens in theaters nationwide on Christmas Eve.
