I had great expectations for this movie as Nelson Mandela is by far the most important political figure of our age(second perhaps only to Ghandi), and as such he deserves every bit of homage that can be sent his way.
"Goodbye Bafana" should have been the paramount praise for this extraordinary man, yet it never reaches the potential that lurks just beneath the surface.
One reason for this is the fact that the time frame that has to be covered is too big for the time set aside telling it. As a result, the movie jumps from episode to episode or from highlight to highlight because every aspect of the two men has to be told. This way of telling the story leaves the characters under developed and rather one dimensional. Especially the change in Gregory (Fiennes)from bigot to humanitarian seems to happen overnight.
The leading men are excellent as the prisoner and the guard, but the pace of the movie is too fast and does not give time to delve into the relationship, because there are so many events that have to be covered.
The movie receives 5 stars for the acting and the settings, the direction prevents it from achieving greatness.
"Goodbye Bafana" should have been the paramount praise for this extraordinary man, yet it never reaches the potential that lurks just beneath the surface.
One reason for this is the fact that the time frame that has to be covered is too big for the time set aside telling it. As a result, the movie jumps from episode to episode or from highlight to highlight because every aspect of the two men has to be told. This way of telling the story leaves the characters under developed and rather one dimensional. Especially the change in Gregory (Fiennes)from bigot to humanitarian seems to happen overnight.
The leading men are excellent as the prisoner and the guard, but the pace of the movie is too fast and does not give time to delve into the relationship, because there are so many events that have to be covered.
The movie receives 5 stars for the acting and the settings, the direction prevents it from achieving greatness.