Goodbye Bafana (2007)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Bille August

Writers:

Bob Graham (book)
James Gregory (book)

Release Date:

11 April 2007 (Belgium)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

Based on the memoirs of Nelson Mandela's prison guard

Plot:

GOODBYE BAFANA is the true story of a white South African racist whose life was profoundly altered by the black prisoner he guarded for twenty years. The prisoner's name was Nelson Mandela.

Plot Keywords:

Nelson Mandela | Prison Guard | Apartheid | 1980s | Prison Cell

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Joseph Fiennes	...	James Gregory
Dennis Haysbert	...	Nelson Mandela
Diane Kruger	...	Gloria Gregory
Patrick Lyster	...	Major Pieter Jordaan
Shiloh Henderson	...	Brett Gregory
Tyrone Keogh	...	Chris Gregory
Megan Smith	...	Young Natasha Gregory
Jessica Manuel	...	Natasha Gregory
Faith Ndukwana	...	Winnie Mandela
Terry Pheto	...	Zindzi Mandela
Leslie Mongezi	...	Walter Sisulu
Zingizile Mtuzula	...	Raymond Mhlaba (as Zingi Mtuzula)
Mehboob Bawa	...	Ahmed Kathrada
Shakes Myeko	...	Andrew Mlangeni
Sizwe Msutu	...	Cyril Ramaphosa

Also Known As:

Detenuto 46664 (Italy)
Goodbye Bafana (Germany)
Il colore della liberta' (Italy)
The Color of Freedom (USA) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language including some sexual references.

Runtime:

140 min | France:118 min

Country:

Germany | France | Belgium | South Africa | Italy | UK | Luxembourg

Language:

English | Xhosa

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Ireland:15A | Germany:6 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 (TV rating) | USA:R | Taiwan:PG-12 | Denmark:11 | Norway:10 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, South Africa

Company:

Banana Films

Soundtrack:

Worderboom Wals

Great Story, Bad Acting

The story offers great insight into the recent history of South Africa and the general attitudes of the time. This is great since it hasn't been as widely acknowledged as it should be. Personally, I thought more movies would have been made on this topic. Perhaps even one based on current attitudes and life in South Africa.

The acting by many, if not all, the actors was appalling. Dennis Haysbert was OK considering there wasn't too much emotion needed for his part as the cool-headed and calm Nelson Mandela. However, everyone else just over-acted. Diane Kruger was not a good choice. And why hadn't the chief from Prettoria aged at all in the 20 years that the movie takes place in? The only reason I stayed until the end was for educational purposes only.