Goodbye Bafana (2007)

Director:

Bille August

Writers:

Bille August
Greg Latter (adaptation)
(more)

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 | African National Congress | Prison Life | Racism | Apartheid

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Joseph Fiennes	...	James Gregory
Dennis Haysbert	...	Nelson Mandela
Diane Kruger	...	Gloria Gregory
Patrick Lyster	...	Major Pieter Jordaan
Shiloh Henderson	...	Brent Gregory
Tyrone Keogh	...	Brent Gregory
Megan Smith	...	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
Khaya Sityo	...	Jonas Motsadi
Warrick Grier	...	Vann Niekerk
Clive Fox	...	Col Pier Barnard
Eduan van Jaarsveldt	...	Sgt Chris Brits
Claire Berlein	...	Sannie
Jennifer Stein	...	Joyce Barnard (as Jennifer Steyn)
Andre Jacobs	...	Brigadier Morkel
Mark Elderkin	...	Vosloo
Danny Keogh	...	Coloner Stander
Marko van der Colff	...	Dannie Bosman
Corien Pelt	...	Lynette
Neels Van Jaarsveld	...	Boytjie
Garth Breytenbach	...	Jack Steyn
Louis van Niekerk	...	Generel Voster
Adrian Galley	...	Brigadier Kemp
Norman Anstey	...	Jimmy Kruger
Trix Pienaar	...	Barbara
Dan Robbertse	...	Captain Nel
Zolile Nokwe	...	Hangula
Willy Harzon	...	Pollsmoor Captain
Paula Pursch	...	Librarian
Albert Maritz	...	Library security guard
Bernice Mpinda	...	Elderly black lady
Michele Belknap	...	Librarian receptionist
Thomas Galvin	...	Young James
Bulelani Sonqishe	...	Bafana
Martin Le Maitre	...	Quartermaster
Kyle Solms	...	Young warder
Graham Weir	...	Tough warder
Mauro Stephano Faraoni	...	Warder at harbour
Zikhona Mda	...	Zenani (as Zikhonna Mda)
Antonio Cencherle	...	Gate guard
Bulelwa Cosa	...	Black lady with child
Matthew Dylan Roberts	...	Man in suit (as Mathew Roberts)
Alessandra Vinciguerra	...	Lady in blue
Charl Van Heyningen	...	News reader 1982
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Giulia Troiano	...	Voice Italian Version (uncredited)

Directed by
Bille August

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Bille August
Bob Graham		book
James Gregory		book
Greg Latter		adaptation
Greg Latter		screenplay

Produced by
Carola Ash	....	associate producer: Future Films
Frédéric Bal	....	line producer: Arsam International
Dianne Beatty	....	line producer: South Africa
Guillaume Benski	....	associate producer: Arsam International
Roberto Cipullo	....	producer: Fonema SPA
Jimmy de Brabant	....	executive producer
Kwesi Dickson	....	producer: Future Films
Michael Dounaev	....	executive producer
Alison Ellard	....	development producer
Ilann Girard	....	producer: Arsam International
Michel Houdmont	....	executive producer: Banana Films
Skady Lis	....	executive producer: X Filme Creative Pool
Stephen Margolis	....	executive producer: Future Films
Kami Naghdi	....	executive producer
Livio Negri	....	associate producer: Fonema SPA
Marc Noyons	....	executive producer: Banana Films
Gherardo Pagliei	....	producer: Fonema SPA
Christine Raspillère	....	line producer: Arsam Interational
Andro Steinborn	....	producer: X Filme Creative Pool
Jean-Luc Van Damme	....	producer: Banana Films
David Wicht	....	producer: Film Afrika
Luciano Sovena	....	co-producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Dario Marianelli

Cinematography by
Robert Fraisse		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Hervé Schneid

Casting by
Billy Hopkins
Moonyeenn Lee
Paul Schnee

Production Design by
Tom Hannam

Art Direction by
Jonathan Hely-Hutchinson

Set Decoration by
Zaan De Villiers

Costume Design by
Diana Cilliers

Makeup Department
Hugo Bornman	....	chief hair stylist
Tammy-Lee Cameron	....	dailies hair stylist
Pia Cornelius	....	hair designer
Pia Cornelius	....	makeup designer
Melanie Gillmer	....	assistant make-up student
Kathy Nkoni	....	hair stylist trainee
Kathy Nkoni	....	makeup artist trainee
Debbie Rogovsky	....	makeup artist
Jill Swain	....	hair stylist assistant

Production Management
Dominique Boussagol	....	post-production manager: France
Sudoor Conrad	....	unit manager: second unit (as Conrad Suroor)
Guy Courtecuisse	....	post-production supervisor
Vlokkie Gordon	....	head of production: Film Afrika
Varujan Gumusel	....	post-production manager: France
Natalie Rademeyer	....	production manager
Neil Van Der Linde	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Gilliam	....	first assistant director: second unit
Alberto Ianuzzi	....	second unit director (as Alberto Iannuzzi)
Morena Medi	....	co-third assistant director
Gerhard Mostert	....	third assistant director
Alan Raad	....	co-third assistant director
Makkie Slamong	....	second second assistant director
Guy Travers	....	first assistant director
Patricia Wheeler	....	second assistant director
Shamiel Soni	....	additional second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Edward Arendse	....	carpenter
Mark Baatjes	....	carpenter
Jerome Brown	....	set dresser
Colin Calipa	....	carpenter
Adieu Cameron	....	storeman
Emile Coetzee	....	carpenter
Barry Coetzer	....	stand-by set dresser
Maria Constantinides	....	art department coordinator
Christopher Crowster	....	carpenter
Christopher Crowster	....	painter
Jason Crowster	....	assistant carpenter
Dylan Culhane	....	art department researcher
Greg Davis	....	construction director
Storm Dyssell	....	stand-by props
Michael Fernandes	....	art department production assistant
Murray Grier	....	carpenter
Dylan Johnson	....	set dressing leadman
Phillip Khan	....	carpenter
Vincent Khentani	....	carpenter
Egbert Kruger	....	property master
Jerry Kundati	....	swing gang 3
George Malabo	....	set dressing assistant (as George Malobo)
Paul Marais	....	carpenter
Elias Mawela	....	swing gang 1
Leonard Mcamani	....	carpenter
Sean Moran	....	carpenter
Khaya Nangle	....	set dressing runner
Shadrack Ndhlovu	....	swing gang 2
David Ntete	....	storeman
Tom Olive	....	additional set dresser (as Thomas Olive)
Hugo Q.	....	carpenter
Gareth Roux	....	carpenter
Malcolm Stain	....	paint sprayer
Nolan Van Rooyen	....	assistant stand-by props
Andre Van Vuuren	....	carpenter
Kelvin Whitaker	....	carpenter
Claude Wittwen	....	props buyer
Rae Wynna-Roberts	....	scenic artist (as Rae W. Roberts)
David Wynne-Roberts	....	scenic artist (as David W. Roberts)
Simon Zikhali	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Jonathan Acbard	....	boom operator
Dirk Bombey	....	sound mixer
Dirk Bombey	....	sound
Frédéric Cattoni	....	sound consultant: DTS
Sandra Demoyer	....	sound post-production administrator
Alek Goosse	....	adr recordist
Alek Goosse	....	foley recordist
Alek Goosse	....	sound
Alek Goosse	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Gert Janssen	....	dialogue editor
Gert Janssen	....	sound editor
Conrad Kuhne	....	sound mixer: Lsecond uniut (as Conrad Kühne)
Caroline Landsweerdt	....	assistant sound editor
Frédéric Maes	....	sound post-production coordinator
Michel Monier	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Michel Moiner)
Julien Naudin	....	foley artist
Herman Pieëte	....	sound designer
Herman Pieëte	....	sound
Herman Pieëte	....	supervising sound editor
Pascale Schaer	....	sound technician
Jonathan Vanneste	....	sound technician
Dirk Bombey	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roly Jansen	....	special effects technician: second unit
John Smith	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Vadim Androussoff	....	digital compositor: Duran Duboi
Christophe Belena	....	technical coordinator: Duboicolor
Coralie Boulay	....	digital coordinator: Duboicolor
Stephanie Broussaud	....	lustre assistant: Duboicolor
Guillaume Carniato	....	digital compositor: Duran Duboi
Alain Carsoux	....	visual effects supervisor: Duran Duboi
Nicolas Daniel	....	data management: Duboicolor
Bertrand de Saint Seine	....	visual effects editor: Duran Duboi
Séverine De Wever	....	visual effects coordinator: Duran Duboi
Ludivine Ducrocq	....	visual effects assistant: Duran Duboi
François Dupuy	....	technical engineer: Duboicolor
Thomas Jodeau	....	scanner: Duboicolor
Abdel Ali Kassou	....	technical manager: Duboicolor
Emmanuel Le Courbe	....	digital compositor: Duran Duboi
Delphine Le Roch	....	visual effects coordinator: Duran Duboi
Brice Leclert	....	scanner: Duboicolor
Tina Lin	....	technical coordinator: Duboicolor
Sergeï Lourié	....	digital compositor: Duran Duboi (as Sergei 'Cloun' Lourie)
Loriane Lucas	....	digital preparation: Duboicolor
Nolween Moign	....	data management: Duboicolor
Benoit Philippon	....	digital compositor: Duran Duboi
Etienne Salançon	....	digital compositor: Duran Duboi
John Smith	....	visual effects supervisor
Mikael Tanguy	....	digital compositor: Duran Duboi
Laetitia Tomasi	....	digital coordinator: Duboicolor
Edouard Valton	....	visual effects: Duran Duboi
Tommaso Vergallo	....	digital camera manager: Duboicolor
Jean-Nicolas Costa	....	additional compositing (uncredited)
Guillaume Le Gouez	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Dan Hirst	....	stunts (as Daniel Hirst)
Julian Koberman	....	stunt double
Anton Moon	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Blid Alsbirk	....	still photographer
Dax Bailey	....	spark
Jean DeKock	....	spark (as Jean De Kock)
Shervaun Diaz	....	cable basher
Carl Eksteen	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Sarel Eloff	....	first assistant camera
Vincent Fletcher	....	gaffer
Andrew Green	....	grip assistant
Shani Hayward	....	second assistant camera
Mackie Iyoka	....	vtr operator
Ricardo Koopman	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Chris Lomax	....	director of photography: second unit
Henri Marais	....	best boy grip
Julious Mudeh	....	darkroom loader
Justin Paterson	....	lighting best boy
Richard Rolf	....	Steadicam operator
Bruno Shosha	....	generator operator
Alfre Theron	....	grip assistant
Ray Wilsnaugh	....	key grip (as Ray Wilsnagh)

Casting Department
Kerry Barden	....	casting
Suzanne Crowley	....	casting (as Suzanne Crowley)
Belinda Kruger	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca Daniel	....	seamstress
Shaida Dramat	....	seamstress (as Shahida Dramat)
Gillian Florence	....	key wardrobe stand-by
Jayne Forbes	....	costume supervisor
Nawaal Hendriks	....	assistant wardrobe stand-by (as Nawaal Hendricks)
Charlene Johnson	....	seamstress
Josephine Samuelson	....	wardrobe trainee
Mandy Smit	....	wardrobe assistant
Shakier Starck	....	wardrobe assistant
Ronel Wagner	....	pattern cutter (as Ronel Wagener)
Miriam Williams	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Elisa Aboulker	....	second assistant editor
Serge Anthony	....	color timer: France (as Serge Antony)
Feriel Benouarka	....	post-production coordinator: France (as Fériel Benourka)
Jerome Brechet	....	editor: pan & scan
Stephanie Broussaud	....	digital intermediate editor
Christelle Didier	....	assistant to post-production supervisor
Andreas Dobers	....	post-production: X Filme Creative Pool
Anne-Marie Etcheverry	....	negative cutter: France
Claire Fieschi	....	second assistant editor
Benoït Hay	....	post-production coordinator: Scanlab
Élodie Ichter	....	digital intermediate editor
Graham Jukes	....	colorist
Ariane Lippens	....	editor: making of
Charlotte Mazzinghi	....	colorist
Louise Mycielski	....	post-production supervisor: Waterfront Studios
Matthys Pretorius	....	assistant editor
Svetlana Vaynblat	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
James Bellamy	....	music editor
Ruth Chan	....	music preparation
Gordon Davidson	....	assistant music engineer
Peter Fuchs	....	music engineer
Janice Graham	....	orchestra leader
Madosini	....	musician: african bows
Madosini	....	musician: solo vocalist
Dario Marianelli	....	conductor
Dario Marianelli	....	orchestrator
Maggie Rodford	....	score coordinator: Air-Edel
Hilary Skewes	....	musician contractor: Buick Productions
Nick Taylor	....	assistant music engineer
Richard Tunnicliffe	....	musician: viola da gamba
Benjamin Wallfisch	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
David Aphiri	....	driver: makeup truck
Trevor Cope	....	driver: grip truck
Sedan Cunningham	....	driver: catering
Clinton De Villiers	....	driver: cast, South Africa (as Clint De Villiers)
Quiven Diakazebi	....	driver: set dressing (as Quevin Diakazebi)
Wiseman Dinizulu	....	driver: spark truck
Reny Djieutcheu	....	driver: camper (as Remy Djieutcheu)
Paddy Ellis	....	picture vehicle coordinator
Jessie Fourie	....	transportation coordinator
Gary Good	....	driver: cast, children
Denzel Grahn	....	picture vehicle assistant
Issa Inussa	....	driver: wardrobe truck
Ryder Jaxa	....	driver: camper
Joshua Kabanda	....	driver: prop truck
Sam Kabanda	....	driver: picture vehicle
Makaya Lamdry	....	driver: camper
Eugene Le Roux	....	driver
Wilbur Louw	....	driver
Didier Malanga	....	driver: set dressing truck
Milos Malonga	....	driver: camper
Feli Masango	....	driver: production truck
Adrian Matthyse	....	driver: picture vehicle
Sisa Oswald Mene	....	driver: pool
Mbuyiselo Minqayi	....	driver: pool
Fanie Muntz	....	driver: crew, South Africa
John Mwanisoh	....	driver: unit truck
Debrime Pereira	....	driver: makeup bus
Sandile Phambili	....	driver: camera ttuck (as Sandile Phambile)
Daniel Smith	....	driver: camper
Neil Van Der Linde	....	transportation manager

Other crew
Paul Acutt	....	marine coordinator
June Alrick	....	tutor: Shiloh & Megan
Valentina Ambra	....	production assistant: Fonema SPA
James Baillie	....	chaperone: Diane Kruger
Jason Ballard	....	runner: second unit
Hugh Barret	....	financial controller: Film Afrika (as Hugh Barrett)
Mark Beaumont	....	supervising accountant: Future Films
Edward Beeka	....	security
Robert Bentley	....	location manager
Claire Berlein	....	dialogue coach: South Africa
Alexandre Berman	....	production assistant: Arsam International
Abednico Bixa	....	general worker
Goodman Bixa	....	general worker
Mark Cain	....	petty cash clerk
Morag Cameron	....	script supervisor
Camille Charriére	....	title credits: EDITORS, Paris
Dylan Chegwidden	....	stand-in: James
Ellen Cilliers	....	production secretary
Charles-Henri Clodion	....	title credits: EDITORS, Paris
Thembisa Cochrane	....	production receptionist
Kerry Commins	....	location scout
Simon Coppoy	....	production assistant: Banana Films
Brian Cordray	....	development consultant: X Filme Creative Pool
Brian Cordray	....	script consultant
Michelle Coscia	....	procurer
Nicholas Dalton	....	french counsel: Arsam International
Phillip De Beer	....	payroll clerk
Kurt De Villers	....	unit assistant
Henri De Villiers	....	unit assistant
Clifford Delcie	....	location assistant
Pierpaolo Di Lembi	....	runner: Fonema SPA
Sabrina Duguet	....	production assistant: Arsam International
Jules Elvins	....	legal: Future Films
Isabelle Fauvel	....	development consultant: Arsam International
Valentia Fisher	....	location coordinator
Power Fudukile	....	general worker
Patrick Hans	....	finance & administration: Banana Films
Doug Hardy	....	runner: second unit
Gai Harvison-Petzer	....	accounts supervisor: South Africa
Marie-Noelle Hauville	....	accountant supervisor: Arsam International (as Marie-Noëlle Hauville)
Cordula Herrmann	....	accountant: X Filme Creative Pool
Ricardo Highburg	....	unit assistant
Caitlin Hugo	....	stand-in: Gloria
Annette Jacobs	....	administrator
Roysten Jacobs	....	unit set production assistant
Mervin Japhta	....	assistant catering team leader
Aparna Jayachandran	....	continuity trainee
Warren Patrick Jordaan	....	unit assistant trainee
Marcos Kantis	....	production consultant: X Filme Creative Pool
James Kay	....	legal services: Olswang, London
Kenneth Kleinberg	....	legal services: Kleinberg Lopez Brisbin Cuddy & Edel, Los Angeles
Ayande Kondile	....	general worker
Carol Kruger	....	accounts supervisor: South Africa
Valerie Legrain-Doussau	....	business affairs: Film Afrika (as Valérie Legrain-Doussau)
A. Fredric Leopold	....	legal services: Leopold Petrich, Los Angeles (as Frederick Leopold)
Jan Lohfeldt	....	chaperone: cast, children
Bizeki Magwanda	....	chaperone: Joseph Fiennes
Dona Malebo	....	craft service team leader
Jerome Mampassa	....	craftee
Tatenda Matienga	....	base camp craftee
Sebastian Matthys	....	unit assistant (as Secastian 'Bassie' Matthys)
Maria Maya	....	accountant: Banana Films
Jackie Mayou	....	extras coordinator
James Mbombo	....	general worker
Kevin McBain	....	creditors accountant
Joyce Monametsi	....	office assistant
Alessandra Moresco	....	production coordinator: Future Films
Pierre-Emmanuel Mouthuy	....	belgian counsel: Banana Films
Sizwe Msutu	....	dialogue coach: Xhosa
Lesley-Anne Mulder	....	representative: Metal Moon Marketing
Mark Murray	....	animal wrangler: dogs
Mishack Musonza	....	catering hand
Vincent Ndikumana	....	chaperone: Dennis Haysbert
Henrietta Ngcebetsha	....	office assistant (as Hendrietta Ngcebetsha)
Lewis Nguwata	....	general worker
Monde Colin Ntilashe	....	filing clerk
Thoko Ntshinga	....	dialogue coach: Xhosa
Maxwell Ntsokota	....	general worker
Lincon Panya	....	general worker
Kerryn Pitt	....	unit medic
Annabel Plant	....	legal: Future Films
Andre Poggenpoel	....	catering team leader
Melvin Qajana	....	general worker
Nic Ransome	....	script consultant: Future Films
Nicoletta Ricciardi	....	production coordinator: Fonema SPA (as Nicoletta Riccardi)
Mathieu Robinet	....	assistant to producer: Future Films
Caroline Rodriguez	....	script consultant: Arsam International
Véronique Rofé	....	production coordinator: Arsam International (as Véronique Rofe)
Benoit Roland	....	production coordinator: Banana Films
Dezi Rorich	....	unit publicist
Maxine Ross	....	runner: Future Films
Jessica Rosselet	....	production assistant: Arsam International
Millicent Rweca	....	craftee
Paolo Scarponi	....	administration: Fonema SPA
Aubrey Simpson	....	chaperone: Bille August
Sybil Simpson	....	production assistant
Siya Sityana	....	set production assistant
Veronica Snyders	....	assistant extras coordinator
Philipp G. Steffens	....	financing consultant
Benjamin Stieborn	....	accountant: Banana Films
Nadja Stoyan	....	trainee: X Filme Creative Pool
Nicolas Taffin	....	production coordinator: Arsam International
Darren Thompson	....	production assistant
Joan Tissink	....	caterer: The Food Lab
Arnaud Tourangin	....	script consultant: Arsam International
Marieke Tricoire	....	title credits: EDITORS, Paris
Karin Trolle	....	director: making of
Karin Trolle	....	personal assistant: Bille August
Nancy Truter	....	administrator
Aaron Tyeko	....	general worker
Garin Van Munster	....	animal coordinator: dogs
Drikus White	....	base camp manager
Shuiab Whittle	....	runner
Deirdre Williams	....	production coordinator (as Deirdré Williams)
Warren Wisebeach	....	location scout
Alex Yali	....	general worker
Nicholas Frank	....	production assistant (uncredited)
John Kaylin	....	dubbing producer (uncredited)
Frankie Malhotra	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Aranka Matits	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Marc Noyons	....	financial services (uncredited)
Micah Schifman	....	assistant: Diane Kruger (uncredited)

Thanks
Bertrand Le Delezir	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Banana Films
• Arsam International
• Film Afrika Worldwide
• Future Films
• Thema Production
• X-Filme Creative Pool

Distributors

• Bir Film (2007) (Turkey) (all media)
• A-Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• X Verleih AG (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2007) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Image Entertainment
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Vendetta Films (2007) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Duboicolor (digital grading)
• Duran Duboi (digital effects)
• Stunt SA & SFX (special effects: South Africa)

Other Companies

• AFM Lighting  camera: lighting & grip equipment: South Africa
• AGeNT  sound post-production
• Acis Car Rental  truck & car hire company: South Africa
• Air-Edel Associates  music services
• Air-Edel Recording Studios  music mixing facility (as Air-Edel Studios)
• Airborne Camera Experts  camera: lighting & grip equipment: South Africa
• Angel Studios  music recording facility
• Artistic Images  editing equipment (as Artistic Image)
• Bobo Campers  truck & car hire company: South Africa
• Bogard  camera: lighting & grip equipment: France
• CGM Insurance Brokers  insurance: South Africa
• Cellular Dynamics  cell phone communications: South Africa
• Cinéstéréo  optical transfer
• DTS  sound post-production
• Daisy Bell  sound equipment: Belgium (as Daisy Belle)
• Dolby Digital  sound post-production
• Editors  title credits
• Fedex Cape Town  freight and courier company: South Africa
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Film Freight  freight and courier company: South Africa
• Grossberg Uniforms  costumes: South Africa
• Ikhaya House of Costumes  costumes: South Africa (as Ikhaya of Costumes)
• Imperial Truck Hire  truck & car hire company: South Africa
• JBL Conseil  accounting: Arsam International
• Kempston Truck Hire  truck & car hire company: South Africa (as Kemston Truck Hire)
• Kempton Caravans  truck & car hire company: South Africa (as Kempston Caravans)
• Kleinberg Lopez Brisbin Cuddy & Edel  legal services:" Los Angeles
• Le Bureau Du Voyage  travel
• Leopold Petrich  legal services: Los Angeles
• Liquid Studios  camera: lighting & grip equipment: South Africa
• Media Film Services  camera: lighting & grip equipment: South Africa
• Olswang  legal services: London
• Premier Post Production  research archive material: South Africa
• Pro Events  on-set security: South Africa
• Second Time Round  costumes: South Africa
• Sensesound  sound post-production
• South African Courier Systems  freight and courier company: South Africa
• Stunt Network  stunts: South Africa
• Tempest Six Car Hire  truck & car hire company: South Africa
• The Food Lab  catering
• Theatre and Film Costume Workshop  costumes: South Africa
• Thread Needle Street Costume Hire  costumes: South Africa
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• Waterfront Studios  editing & auditorium
• Zig Zag Costume Hire  costumes: South Africa
• www.circlefilm.com  insurance: Belgium
• Éditions Robert Laffont  book publisher

Also Known As:

"The Color of Freedom" - USA (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language including some sexual references

Runtime:

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) | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Company:

Banana Films

Quotes:

Nelson Mandela:I have not touched my wife in twenty-one years.

Soundtrack:

Ek Verlang Na Jou

A Friendship Defined

While many books and films about South Africa's Apartheid have attempted to convey the tension and the eventual dissolution of that sociopolitical scheme, few histories bring us as close to the core of the schism as does Bille August's excellent film THE COLOR OF FREEDOM. Based on the book GOODBYE BAFANA by James Gregory (with Bob Graham) the story details the relationship between Nelson Mandela and prison warden James Gregory during Mandela's long imprisonment on Robben Island off the coast of South Africa, and the gradual friendship that occurred between these disparate men. Studying this development of a friendship provides an opportunity to better understand the concept of Apartheid and of the evils of racism in general.

Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert) was convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment on the desolate Robben Island for his non-violent attempts to end racism in South Africa, attempts that eventually resulted in work stoppages and resistance movements that moved the articulate, well-educated lawyer Mandela into the realm of activism. While on Robben Island he was guarded by one James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes), a pro-apartheid, cruel prison employee who was assigned to Mandela as a spy and censor because of Gregory's knowledge of the local language Xhosa (learned from his childhood when his best friend was a black boy named Bafana). Gregory lives on the island with this wife (Diane Kruger) and children and his commitment to his family provides a stark contrast to his hatred of his black 'Kaffir' prisoners: his involvement with the pro-apartheid status is strengthened by his direct communication with Intelligence in the cities of South Africa where his censored information from the prisoners leads to definitive capture and 'disposal' of the blacks. On a trip ashore Gregory and his wife and children witness first hand the beatings and cruelties of the whites against the blacks and Gregory returns to his duties on Robben Island with a gradually changing point of view for the model prisoner Mandela. They begin communicating in Xhosa and Gregory allows Mandela's wife Winnie (Faith Ndukwana) to spend more committed time with her husband on her restricted visits to Robben island. One particular misstep - Gregory passes Mandela's Christmas gift of a piece of chocolate to Winnie - threatens Gregory's status on the island, while at the same time bonding Mandela and Gregory like brothers. Gregory's life and philosophy have been changed by Mandela's powerful personality and spirit and his eventual release from prison into the new, freed South Africa has been aided in a small but meaningful way by Gregory - a reflection of Gregory's childhood bond with his friend Bafana.

August captures the tension and the atmosphere of South Africa in this visually stunning film. Fiennes is superb as James Gregory as is Diane Kruger as his wife. Dennis Haysbert conveys the spiritual essence of Mandela despite the fact that his physical appearance is not at all like the Mandela known so well from the still constant photographs of the diminutive freedom fighter we see frequently. But the film does convey the tenor of the changing times during the 27-year confinement of Nelson Mandela. The featurettes on the DVD offer lengthy history lessons about the real events referenced in the film and add immeasurably to the film's overall success. There is much to learn from this film in addition to the fact that it is a solid work of cinematic artistry. Grady Harp