Nelson Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom

On February 11, 1990, South African political prisoner Nelson Mandela was finally released after 27 years of imprisonment. This short documentary, consisting primarily of news footage, briefly recounts the history of British and Dutch occupation, the injustices of apartheid, and the birth of the African National Congress (ANC) and similar institutions to combat the tyrannical oppression of the white settlers. Although Mandela remained behind bars during the height of the major conflicts which rocked South Africa during the 70s and 80s, he was still a strong influence on the ANC and, following the murder of Stephen Biko, became the focus of a drive to free what many South Africans saw as their "spiritual leader." Just prior to his 72nd birthday, Mandela was freed, and the cameras record his first statements to groups over the initial days of his freedom. Although Mandela's story is interesting, this film--as a documentary--is too much infused with the news-reporting sensibility which governs it. The historical frame is compressed into a mini-story which is long on sensational footage (rioting in Johannesburg, etc.) and short on examination of the events; in other words, it's very much like TV news. Not a necessary purchase. (See ICEBREAKER for availability.)