Themes: Political Unrest, Righting the Wronged, Social Injustice
Main Cast: Sidney Poitier, Michael Caine, Tina Lifford, Ian Roberts
Release Year: 1997
Country: US
Run Time: 109 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
In an historical docudrama that was made for television, Sidney Poitier performs the role of Nelson Mandela, while Michael Caine plays the South African president Frederick Willem De Klerk, the man who instituted the reforms that would abolish apartheid, who released Nelson Mandela from nearly 30 years in prison, and who jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 with Mandela for creating the transition to a nonracial democracy in South Africa. The negotiations between Mandela and De Klerk for an ordered, legal, and peaceful transition to a full democracy are the bulk of this film's content. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Review
This low-profile production earned high praise from critics for its outstanding acting and faithful recreation of an important turning point in South African history -- the end of apartheid. It was, of course, black activist Nelson Mandela who led the fight against racial separatism, and Sidney Poitier portrays him with dignity and unyielding resolve as Mandela rises from imprisoned persona non grata to leader of all of South Africa. In the role of Mandela's foil-turned-peacemaking partner, Frederick Willem de Klerk, is Michael Caine. His performance aptly depicts the altruism and pragmatism that induce de Klerk to surrender to destiny and, with Mandela, turn South Africa into a democracy in which blacks and whites are equals. Poitier and Caine both won Emmy nominations for their portrayals, and Caine also earned a Golden Globe nod. To enhance the authenticity of the film, director Joe Sargent and producer Bernie Sofronski shot it in locales where the actual Mandela-de Klerk negotiations took place, spliced in newsreel footage of the historic events, and hired native actors -- such as Jerry Mofokeng (Sfsulu), Owen Sejake (Miangeni), and Farouk Valley-Omar (Kathadra) -- to play minor roles. In addition, Sargent and Sofronski engaged South African musician Cedric Gradus Samson to compose a score played by an all-South African orchestra. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
