Five best Nelson Mandela films

South Africans and the whole world are commemorating a year since the passing of former President Nelson Mandela.

Madiba passed away at his home in Houghton on 5 December last year. Here are the five best films that will help you remember Nelson Mandela’s journey.

1. Long walk to freedom

A story of Nelson Mandela’s life journey (played by Adris Elba as Madiba and Naomie Harries as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela) from his childhood in a rural village called Qunu through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.The movie was premiered last year before the passing of Madiba. Long Walk to Freedom largely showcase the legend and ship-shape the tensions.

2. Invictus

Invictus is a film that highlights Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and his rise to a democratically elected President of South Africa. It tells the inspiring true story of how Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) brought people together through the universal language of sport. In the movie, the newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. However, in order to unite the nation, he rallies South Africa’s rugby team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.

3. Goodbye Bafana

The film is about the struggle that black people had to endure under the apartheid regime of the National Party Government. They [blacks] had no votes, no land rights, no rights to freedom of movement, to housing or education. However, things became messy when whites banned all black opposition organisations, forcing their leaders into exile or imprisoning them for life on Robben Island. James Gregory, a typical white Afrikaner, having grown up on a farm in the Transkei, learned to speak Xhosa at an early age. This made him an ideal choice to become the warder in charge of Mandela and his comrades on Robben Island. Gregory spoke their language and spied on them. However, the plan backfires. Through Mandela’s influence, Gregory’s loyalty shifts from the racist government to the struggle for a free South Africa.

4. Mandela (1987 film)

Mandela is played by an American actor Danny Glover – three years before he [Mandela] was released from prison.

The movie unfolds the story of South African human-rights advocate Nelson Mandela, who at the time the film was made, was in the 25th year of a prison sentence. The film traces Mandela’s matriculation from young lawyer to enthusiastic anti-apartheid political activist.

5. Winnie Mandela (film)

The story of Winnie Mandela focuses on the beautiful and tragic love story of Nelson and Winnie Mandela.

Starring Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson in the title role and Terrence Howard as Nelson Mandela, the film tells the story of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s experiences during the stormy decades of her husband’s imprisonment. The film also highlights her strength and willingness to fight for what she believes in.