Movie evokes emotions among the audience.
SO FAR there has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the long-awaited Nelson Mandela movie starring Idris Elba as Madiba, which premiered in South Africa this weekend.
Disappointingly however not a single frame of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, was filmed in the Eastern Cape.
Videovision’s Dezi Rorich confirmed that the rural scenes in the movie were shot in KwaZulu-Natal and other locations were in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Nothing For Mahala director Rolie Nikiwe said it was standard procedure in the industry to shoot a movie in a similar, but not always the exact, location. He said KwaZulu-Natal rural areas had the same Eastern Cape feel.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, features British actress Naomie Harris as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Tony Kgoroge as ANC stalwart Walter Sisulu and Terry Pheto as Mandela’s first wife, Evelyn.
The Mandela family, including Madikizela-Mandela, Graça Machel and some of Madiba’s grandchildren, were among the audience at Sunday’s premiere in Johannesburg – and among those who loved the movie.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang said the making of the movie had been a long journey, and the foundation had travelled it with producer Anant Singh and his team.
“Mandated by Mr Mandela himself, the foundation’s researchers and archivists were privileged to make their expertise available to the project, and now we look forward to working with Anant and his team to take its message to South Africans and the world,” he said.
“The film and the ending is a powerful call to action of what we need to do as South Africans and indeed the world. What this represents and signals is the handing over of the baton of leadership,” Hatang said.
Port Elizabeth musician Nomfusi Gotyana, who plays a young Miriam Makeba in the movie, said she enjoyed being part of the cast. “My part is not big. It is located in a place that looks like Sophiatown. Mandela walks in with his friend and two ladies inside the bar where Mama Miriam is singing with a three-piece band,” she said.
She felt honoured to be part of such an incredible project. “I think it is going for the Oscars, it is a brilliant production,” she added.
At the premiere, Singh said when Mandela gave him the rights to the film he told him: “Don’t worry, don’t bother me, I trust you”.
Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said he was moved to tears by the movie.
“It was a very emotional movie,” he said. “It depicted not only the struggle by Nelson Mandela but also by the people of South Africa. I cried many times during the movie.”
The movie opens countrywide on November 28. —
‘Long Walk to Freedom’ roundly appreciated
SO FAR there has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the long-awaited Nelson Mandela movie starring Idris Elba as Madiba, which premiered in South Africa this weekend.
Disappointingly however not a single frame of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, was filmed in the Eastern Cape.
Videovision’s Dezi Rorich confirmed that the rural scenes in the movie were shot in KwaZulu-Natal and other locations were in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Nothing For Mahala director Rolie Nikiwe said it was standard procedure in the industry to shoot a movie in a similar, but not always the exact, location. He said KwaZulu-Natal rural areas had the same Eastern Cape feel.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, features British actress Naomie Harris as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Tony Kgoroge as ANC stalwart Walter Sisulu and Terry Pheto as Mandela’s first wife, Evelyn.
The Mandela family, including Madikizela-Mandela, Graça Machel and some of Madiba’s grandchildren, were among the audience at Sunday’s premiere in Johannesburg – and among those who loved the movie.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang said the making of the movie had been a long journey, and the foundation had travelled it with producer Anant Singh and his team.
“Mandated by Mr Mandela himself, the foundation’s researchers and archivists were privileged to make their expertise available to the project, and now we look forward to working with Anant and his team to take its message to South Africans and the world,” he said.
“The film and the ending is a powerful call to action of what we need to do as South Africans and indeed the world. What this represents and signals is the handing over of the baton of leadership,” Hatang said.
Port Elizabeth musician Nomfusi Gotyana, who plays a young Miriam Makeba in the movie, said she enjoyed being part of the cast. “My part is not big. It is located in a place that looks like Sophiatown. Mandela walks in with his friend and two ladies inside the bar where Mama Miriam is singing with a three-piece band,” she said.
She felt honoured to be part of such an incredible project. “I think it is going for the Oscars, it is a brilliant production,” she added.
At the premiere, Singh said when Mandela gave him the rights to the film he told him: “Don’t worry, don’t bother me, I trust you”.
Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said he was moved to tears by the movie.
“It was a very emotional movie,” he said. “It depicted not only the struggle by Nelson Mandela but also by the people of South Africa. I cried many times during the movie.”
The movie opens countrywide on November 28. —
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