Product Details

• Actors: Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela, F.W. de Klerk, Eugene Terre'Blanche
• Directors: Angus Gibson;Jo Menell
• Format: Box set, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Palm Pictures
• DVD Release Date: July 18, 2006
• Run Time: 118 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000GBEWT8
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,237 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Also known as Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation, this Oscar-nominated documentary paints an indelible portrait of a complex subject. The film begins with Nelson Mandela's pastoral, if polygamous childhood--his tribal chief father had four wives--and touches on his 27-year imprisonment, historic presidency, and Nobel Peace Prize (shared with former president F.W. de Klerk). Although South Africa's most famous son does not narrate, his words are the movie's ace in the hole as he provides most of the on-screen commentary. (Though his English is excellent, his accent can be a little strong; a few subtitles would've been nice.) Filmmakers Jo Menell and Angus Gibson do an admirable job at alternating between the personal, like Mandela's divorces from Evelyn and Winnie, and the professional, like his turbulent leadership of the African National Congress. That said, the film has taken a few (deserving) knocks over the years for a lack of opposing voices and for downplaying de Klerk's role in ending apartheid. There are some heavy hitters behind this biography, including director Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs), who produced, and horn virtuoso Hugh Masekela, who composed the score (along with Cédric Gradus Samson). This Palm World Voices package includes a 26-track soundtrack CD, 48-page book, and even a National Geographic map of South Africa. -- Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description
AS HEARD ON NPR!

Offering an intimate look at one of the world’s most revered human rights figures from his early days to his election as South Africa’s first black president, the feature-length film produced by Jonathan Demme was nominated for the 1997 Academy Award for Best Documentary. A 26-track CD soundtrack includes South African legends Hugh Masekela, Johnny Clegg & Savuka, Vusi Mahlasela, The Manhattan Brothers, Brenda Fassie and many more. The 48-page book and National Geographic Map chronicle the political and cultural history of South Africa.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation, February 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation (DVD)

Watched with my teenager and found this to be a very nice review of Nelson Mandela's life. Starts with how he was raised and educated to be the assistant to a village chief through his election as President of South Africa. The initial focus on how he was raised and interviews with his sister and others who know him gave good insight into his character that made him such a fighter for justice and great leader.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disagree with the Editorial Review greatly on this point, May 3, 2005

By	yjt43y7 (Eastern United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation (DVD)

Specifically, the narritive flow was good, and it gave persons a way to see the developement of Nelson Mandela and the freedom movement in South Africa. The statement that there was not alot about De Klerk, I also agree in substance and tone. De Klerk appeared commensurate to what Nelson Mandela had been saying all of his life, that he was always against racism, no pro one ethnic group or the other. This is something that De Klerk was not committed to from the beginning of his life apparently, and he, like Pharoah in Egypt, saw the writing on the wall with respect to the newness that was coming. Nonetheless, when Freedom finally came to South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who I know personnally, led all of us in a hand clap for Mr. De Klerk. This story, was about Nelson Mandela finally, not about Mr. De Klerk, and hence I didn't find the inclusion of De Klerk or the amount of time that he appeared, particularly out of balance with the main drive of the story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Triumph of Freedom, July 23, 2007

By	JAG 1 "Joe Anthony" (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation (DVD)

This is a great documentary that seems to capture the full drama of the life of one of the greatest men of our times. This portrait of Nelson Mandela reflects upon the triumph of freedom; the strength of his character, and also gives an honest look at the man's flawed personal life as well. It also gives one a feeling for the breadth and majesty of the South Africa and the African people.

The soundtrack and cinematography are also outstanding.