MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM – The Review

Review by Michael Haffner

Biopics are released every year in theaters. Stories of inspiration and true events are repeatedly given the Hollywood treatment for audiences to take in. Often these films become fodder for critic’s groups to eat up and to award honors to the most recent actor or actress who has “transformed” for their role. Nelson Mandela is the next figure to receive the biopic treatment. A historical icon that has courted controversy as often as being praised, Mandela’s life as an activist, political prisoner, and South African president is told in MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM. While the film acts as a nice survey to Mandela’s life – especially his later years in life – you mostly come away feeling like you just sat through a dry history lecture.

After a brief voice-over and quick peak into the village where he grew up, we see Mandela as young lawyer living in South Africa. His passion for his cases and standing up for justice soon leads to him acting as a central leader in a political activist group. A short marriage is sadly disrupted due to his busy schedule and adulterous ways. During this time, Mandela’s status as an out-spoken opponent to Apartheid catches the attention of the South Africa’s European led government as well as the heart of the stunning social worker Winnie (Naomie Harris). Rousing speeches turn into violent acts when Mandela and his colleagues respond to beatings and other violent acts against their people. These actions eventually land Mandela in prison; a prison sentence that will help grow one man into a legend and spokesperson for his country’s oppressed people.

A LONG WALK TO FREEDOM is precisely that. Even at a little over 2 hours, Justin Chadwick’s film feels like a very long walk towards an end most of us already know. Not much attention is spent on setting up the backdrop of Apartheid or the political situation in South Africa for those unfamiliar with the events. For that matter, not much time is spent on Mandela’s early life at all. Most of the film is interested in displaying the physical and mental injustice that Mandela endured while in prison. I understand that this makes up a good period of his life and that it certainly is important to the character, but an hour of the film is rather stagnant due to the structure of the story.

Idris Elba is more than adequate in the role of the title character. Elba plays each scene with a stoic face and a commanding voice. It’s no fault to him that the material doesn’t have as much depth for the actor to ignite the screen. Who does manage to make something out of nothing though is actress Naomie Harris. Her character seems to transform throughout the film which is masterfully portrayed through Harris’ look from scene to scene. Her eyes are soft and gentle at times while later on their stern appearance look like they could melt the bars that are imprisoning her husband.

It would be hard for any writer or director to try to encapsulate the life of an individual who meant so much to so many in just over 2 hours. It truly is an odd feeling when you leave a film wanting more about from what you saw while also thinking it felt a little too long, but that is precisely what happened with MANDELA. Maybe I’m asking for a little too much but I can’t help but feel a better representation of the life of one of the seminal figures in the world of politics could have been achieved with a shift of focus and a closer attention to detail. Because after all . . . a good biopic should breathe life into its audience not feel deflated before it even gets started.

2 1/2  of 5 Stars

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM opens in St. Louis December 25th at (among other places) Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Theater