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Mandela up close and personal: 1992 film offers intimate portrait Mandela up close and personal: 1992 film offers intimate portrait
(about 3 hours later)
Of the many films made about Nelson Mandela's life, none gets as close to the anti-apartheid hero as The Last Mile, a documentary following the ANC leader on his first trip around west Africa after his release from prison in 1990.Of the many films made about Nelson Mandela's life, none gets as close to the anti-apartheid hero as The Last Mile, a documentary following the ANC leader on his first trip around west Africa after his release from prison in 1990.
It's a unique film because of director Jennifer Pogrund's relationship with Mandela – her father, the journalist Benjamin Pogrund, knew the ANC leader before he was imprisoned. This gave her tthe access to capture Mandela in intimate and reflective mood in footage that's not been seen for 20 years. It's a unique film because of director Jennifer Pogrund's relationship with Mandela – her father, the journalist Benjamin Pogrund, knew the ANC leader before he was imprisoned. This gave her the access to capture Mandela in intimate and reflective mood in footage that's not been seen for 20 years.
The film reflects the conciliatory, almost mystical mood of a man who emerged from prison as a mediator, philosopher and president-in-waiting. Throughout their first week travelling through Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal, Mandela reflects on everything from his childhood to his hopes for an end to white rule in South Africa. The title of the film reflects his conviction that this was imminent. Three years after the trip, in 1994, Mandela was elected president.The film reflects the conciliatory, almost mystical mood of a man who emerged from prison as a mediator, philosopher and president-in-waiting. Throughout their first week travelling through Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal, Mandela reflects on everything from his childhood to his hopes for an end to white rule in South Africa. The title of the film reflects his conviction that this was imminent. Three years after the trip, in 1994, Mandela was elected president.
Pogrund and cameraman Dewald Aukema pick up not only the whirlwind nature of that first head-of-state visit, but the exotic and breathtaking beauty of Africa and Mandela's buttoned lip as he visits the lavish basilicas built by despots on the land of the poor. The film provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes view of Mandela the man – relaxing, telling stories of his youth – but also shows how the tour provided a background to his discussion of Africa's problems: the legacy of colonialism, one-party states, human rights, economic issues and the moves away from authoritarian rule to multi-party democracy.Pogrund and cameraman Dewald Aukema pick up not only the whirlwind nature of that first head-of-state visit, but the exotic and breathtaking beauty of Africa and Mandela's buttoned lip as he visits the lavish basilicas built by despots on the land of the poor. The film provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes view of Mandela the man – relaxing, telling stories of his youth – but also shows how the tour provided a background to his discussion of Africa's problems: the legacy of colonialism, one-party states, human rights, economic issues and the moves away from authoritarian rule to multi-party democracy.
Mandela is the consummate diplomat throughout. He is gentle with praise for Ghana's then president Jerry Rawlings, who came to power after a coup. He even has kind words for the president of Ivory Coast, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who had held absolute power for more than 30 years and remained on an amicable footing with the white South African government while Mandela was in prison. The two are perched uncomfortably side by side on the presidential couch when Mandela asks him: "And how are you Mr President?" The couch seems to belong to Mandela.Mandela is the consummate diplomat throughout. He is gentle with praise for Ghana's then president Jerry Rawlings, who came to power after a coup. He even has kind words for the president of Ivory Coast, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who had held absolute power for more than 30 years and remained on an amicable footing with the white South African government while Mandela was in prison. The two are perched uncomfortably side by side on the presidential couch when Mandela asks him: "And how are you Mr President?" The couch seems to belong to Mandela.
One of the film's most moving moments is a visit to a former slave prison on Goree Island in Senegal, from where millions of people were shipped across the Atlantic. One of its most light-hearted is Mandela talking animatedly in Xhosa on Houphet-Boigny's Gulfstream III jet, which transported the future president for much of the journey. His remarks, which are not translated, refer to the traditional Xhosa rites of passage into manhood – a subject seldom discussed in public. One of the film's most moving moments is a visit to a former slave prison on Goree Island in Senegal, from where millions of people were shipped across the Atlantic. One of its most light-hearted is Mandela talking animatedly in Xhosa on Houphet-Boigny's Gulfstream III jet, which transported the future president for much of the journey. His remarks, which are not translated, refer to the traditional Xhosa rites of passage which mark the transition from childhood to manhood – a subject seldom discussed in public.
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