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| Nelson Mandela on Idris Elba: 'Is that me?' | Nelson Mandela on Idris Elba: 'Is that me?' |
| (3 months later) | |
| Even at 93, says the film director Justin Chadwick, Nelson Mandela "radiates electricity". It's a quality he shares with Idris Elba, British-born star of The Wire, who plays Mandela in Chadwick's official biopic. "When you spend time with Idris, you feel that same energy." | Even at 93, says the film director Justin Chadwick, Nelson Mandela "radiates electricity". It's a quality he shares with Idris Elba, British-born star of The Wire, who plays Mandela in Chadwick's official biopic. "When you spend time with Idris, you feel that same energy." |
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| The movie, which has premiered at the Toronto film festival, is a respectful epic adapted by William Nicholson from Mandela's autobiography: A Long Walk to Freedom. Mandela also approved the casting, despite the lack of immediate physical resemblance. | The movie, which has premiered at the Toronto film festival, is a respectful epic adapted by William Nicholson from Mandela's autobiography: A Long Walk to Freedom. Mandela also approved the casting, despite the lack of immediate physical resemblance. |
| The ailing former South African president was shown some scenes at the end of last year on an iPad by producer Anant Singh, who first approached him 25 years ago. "Is that me?" Mandela apparently asked, looking at the footage. Singh then explained the prosthetics involved in aging Elba up. "And then he started laughing," said Singh at a press conference for the film. "But he endorsed Idris." | The ailing former South African president was shown some scenes at the end of last year on an iPad by producer Anant Singh, who first approached him 25 years ago. "Is that me?" Mandela apparently asked, looking at the footage. Singh then explained the prosthetics involved in aging Elba up. "And then he started laughing," said Singh at a press conference for the film. "But he endorsed Idris." |
| Elba himself, whose portrayal has met with rave reviews, didn't meet Mandela himself, but spent time in South Africa talking to locals and visiting places key to the story (he even spent a night locked on Robben Island). He was cautioned by people in Johannesburg, fearful he hadn't clocked the enormity of his task. "They sat me down and looked me in the eye and said: 'Do you understand the responsibility you have here, pal?' They hold this story dear to their hearts." | Elba himself, whose portrayal has met with rave reviews, didn't meet Mandela himself, but spent time in South Africa talking to locals and visiting places key to the story (he even spent a night locked on Robben Island). He was cautioned by people in Johannesburg, fearful he hadn't clocked the enormity of his task. "They sat me down and looked me in the eye and said: 'Do you understand the responsibility you have here, pal?' They hold this story dear to their hearts." |
| The actor, 41, says he took a "new understanding of the word 'patience'" from playing Mandela (as well as of the word "sacrifice" and "South Africa"). "And when you work in the entertainment industry having patience is something you need." He was initially sceptical about early scenes in the film which show the former president in a less than saintly light. "I didn't want to deface Mr Mandela in any way, but I didn't want to portray him in a way that wasn't honest." | The actor, 41, says he took a "new understanding of the word 'patience'" from playing Mandela (as well as of the word "sacrifice" and "South Africa"). "And when you work in the entertainment industry having patience is something you need." He was initially sceptical about early scenes in the film which show the former president in a less than saintly light. "I didn't want to deface Mr Mandela in any way, but I didn't want to portray him in a way that wasn't honest." |
| Nicholson confirmed the sentiment. "Leaving aside him beating up his wife or being unfaithful, this is a guy with a profound sadness in him. We wanted very much to show that at the moment of his greatest victory there was this sense that he'd lost what was central to his personal." | Nicholson confirmed the sentiment. "Leaving aside him beating up his wife or being unfaithful, this is a guy with a profound sadness in him. We wanted very much to show that at the moment of his greatest victory there was this sense that he'd lost what was central to his personal." |
| "Mandela told me: 'I have strengths and weaknesses,'" said Singh. "He is first to admit he's an Everyman." | "Mandela told me: 'I have strengths and weaknesses,'" said Singh. "He is first to admit he's an Everyman." |
| The film is the latest attempt to show the story of the South African leader on screen, and looks set to be the most successful. A rival, unauthorised version starring Terrence Howard as Mandela and Jennifer Hudson as his second wife, Winnie, was widely panned at its premiere in Toronto two years ago, and progressed to only limited release. This version, which co-stars Naomie Harris as Winnie, as well as having the backing of the Mandela machine, has been scripted by William Nicholson, Oscar-nominated for his work on Gladiator and Shadowlands. | The film is the latest attempt to show the story of the South African leader on screen, and looks set to be the most successful. A rival, unauthorised version starring Terrence Howard as Mandela and Jennifer Hudson as his second wife, Winnie, was widely panned at its premiere in Toronto two years ago, and progressed to only limited release. This version, which co-stars Naomie Harris as Winnie, as well as having the backing of the Mandela machine, has been scripted by William Nicholson, Oscar-nominated for his work on Gladiator and Shadowlands. |
| Nicholson was eager that the film reminds audiences of the enormity of Mandela's achievement. "I don't know of another example in history where an oppressed minority has taken over power without a bloodbath," he said. "That's a model that frankly needs to resonate across the world." | Nicholson was eager that the film reminds audiences of the enormity of Mandela's achievement. "I don't know of another example in history where an oppressed minority has taken over power without a bloodbath," he said. "That's a model that frankly needs to resonate across the world." |
| The task of condensing Mandela's life into a two-hour film, however, proved a challenging one. He thew out an initial treatment employing flashbacks. "What's extraordinary about Mandela is cumulative. We're gradually building up an awareness of what this man has been through to get to his moral victory. The crucial bit in the film is when he realises his oppressors are more afraid of him than he is of them." | The task of condensing Mandela's life into a two-hour film, however, proved a challenging one. He thew out an initial treatment employing flashbacks. "What's extraordinary about Mandela is cumulative. We're gradually building up an awareness of what this man has been through to get to his moral victory. The crucial bit in the film is when he realises his oppressors are more afraid of him than he is of them." |
| Working within the confines of the book, Nicholson was given free reign. At one point, lawyers demanded for script approval. Singh petitioned Mandela to intervene. "I had to explain dramatic licence to him. He said: 'Don't bother me. I trust you. Make the movie.'" | Working within the confines of the book, Nicholson was given free reign. At one point, lawyers demanded for script approval. Singh petitioned Mandela to intervene. "I had to explain dramatic licence to him. He said: 'Don't bother me. I trust you. Make the movie.'" |
| • Mandela: first look review | • Mandela: first look review |
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