Film Review: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Genre: Biography  Drama  History

Cert: 12A cert (13 cert) should be a 15 cert due to some content being adult.

Director: Justin Chadwick

Screen writer: William Nicholson (screenplay), Nelson Mandela (autobiography)

starring: Idris Elba , Naomie Harris,  Tony Kgoroge,  Riaad Moosa , Zolani Mkiva,  Simo Mogwaza,  Fana Mokoena,  Thapelo Mokoena,  Jamie Bartlett,  Deon Lotz,  Terry Pheto,  Zikhona Sodlaka,  S'Thandiwe Kgoroge,  Tshallo Sputla Chokwe,  Sello Maake

Running time: 141 min

Parents advised to read before viewing film as some scene may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.

Sex & Nudity: One scene of full male nudity (genitals, buttocks) in dimly lit, non-sexual context.
No female nudity -- suggested, off-camera female nudity in non-sexual context ( exposed shoulders only).
A few passionate embraces between fully clothed adults. Off-camera, implied intercourse.
A female prison guard forces a woman to strip naked (only bare shoulders are exposed in shot) and it is strongly implied she is being given a cavity search
Some modest inconspicuous cleavage.

Violence & Gore:Some scenes of strong graphic violence, more details below in the spoiler tags.
The police and military gun down unarmed civilians including women and children. People hack someone to death with a hatchet, and a man is doused with gasoline and set ablaze. Many bloodied bodies are seen

Profanity: Racial slurs including "Kaffer" and "boy" are used by whites against blacks.
The word "Shit" is used a number of times. 'Fucking' is used once.
One religious exclamation is used although barely audible. 

Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: many scenes of smoking. Nelson and is friends visit a nightclub where many people are drinking and smoking.


Frightening/Intense Scenes: Some of the violent scenes may frighten young children. Among older viewers, the theme of the film may stir unpleasant memories of the Jim Crow era in the United States, and of the Apartheid era in South Africa. 

Story: Nelson Mandela is a South African lawyer who joins the African National Congress in the 1940s when the law under the Apartheid system's brutal tyranny proves useless for his people. Forced to abandon peaceful protest for armed resistance after the Sharpeville Massacre, Mandela pays the price when he and his comrades are sentenced to life imprisonment for treason while his wife, Winnie, is abused by the authorities herself. Over the decades in chains, Mandela's spirit is unbowed as his struggle goes on in and beyond his captivity to become an international cause. However, as Winnie's determination hardens over the years into a violent ruthlessness, Nelson's own stature rises until he becomes the renowned leader of his movement. That status would be put to the test as his release nears and a way must be found to win a peaceful victory that will leave his country, and all its peoples, unstained.

Likes : The movie shows a very powerful, emotional & heart breaking personal side of the Mandela story, which wasn't focus on the violence that happen around the time it was more focused on sacrifices he endured to achieve the freedom & his desired for all black South Africans to live a peace life without corrupt control from racists government, it made me ever more grateful for having witnessed a small part of the Mandela story.
 Seeing this movie, with it's inclusion of live footage from that time, brought back memories of the emotions of the era, the "Boycott South African goods" campaign, the elation when Mandela was finally freed, and feeling the goosebumps when he spoke. He was, and is, one of the most inspiring, great leaders of our time that taught people to be better than the people that spread evil in the world.
I highly recommend everyone see this movie. It will leave you wanting to learn more about Mandela & read his autobiography bearing the same name as the movie.
This is the the type of man this world needs to bring peace & harmony to it as Mandela said in he own words "people learn to hate, but love come nature to the human heart people can be taught to love, "Alone we have no power, together, we have the power to change the world".
Words from one of the greatest men to live on this earth who sadly he past away at the age of 95 A free man on 5 December 2013, i think Idris Elba performance in portraying him honored the memories of Nelson Mandela life perfect i think he was the best actor to play this role.

Dislikes : nothing wrong with this film.

Overall : Great inspiring story, emotional & heart breaking, Idris Elba best performance to date.  Idris Elba. A must watch.

Rating: 5 out of 5 for entertainment / 10 out of 10 for inspirational story