WINNIE MANDELA (Theatrical Release USA 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì

Winnie Mandela—well casted and well written—attempts to tell the real story of Nelson Mandela’s wife, Winnie. The movie is based on the biography of Winnie Mandela by Anne Marie du Preez Bezrob. The film lists an R-rating, but plays like a PG or PG-13 rating. There are some ‘F’-bombs and minor brutality scenes. Great work for Director Darrell Roodt and Script Writers André Pieterse and Darrell Roodt.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The story begins with an African hut scene, a newborn baby, five sisters waiting in the doorway, and a midwife telling one of the sisters to go get her father. The girl runs to inform her father, who is teaching a class of children, that he has a new child. He dismisses class and runs with the girl back to the hut. He asks if it is a boy. The midwife nods no. He sighs; she hands the baby to him and informs him that this is his sixth girl. He takes the baby and names her Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela (This is slightly incorrect as her real name is Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela). His wife disapproves of the inclusion of Winifred in the name, but the Father defends his choice by saying, “A Godly One, it means a Friend of Peace.” He informs his wife that he wants a boy next time and the movie is off and running.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Philisiwe Buthelezi, Katinka Schumann, Gert Gouws, Hlengiwe Makhathini, Andre Pieterse, Geoffrey Qhena, Ellen Wander, and T.D. Jakes for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Winnie Mandela (Jennifer Hudson), Nelson Mandela (Terrence Howard), Major de Vries (Elias Koteas), Mary Botha (Wendy Crewson), Peter Magubane (Aubrey Poo), Winnie, age 12-13 (Unathi Kapela), Nancy, age 8 (Fezeka Ndlazilwana), Nancy, age 10, 20, 28, 30 (Talitha Ndima), and Columbus Madikizela (Professor Mavuso).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This film works well for the teen/adult audience and tells the story well. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers