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A tribute to a living leader

A still from ’Goodbye Bafana’.

Film: Goodbye Bafana

Director: Billie August

Many summers after Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi connection, cinemagoers across the world regard his work as a masterpiece on the Mahatma. Director Billie August’s take on Nelson Mandela, a leader of no less stature, a man who spent 27 years in prison fighting apartheid,, may not have as lasting value. Yet, in its own discrete way, it goes some way in paying tribute to the tallest of living leaders, who turned 90 this week.

Based on James Gregory’s book, “Goodbye Bafana” predictably tracks the evolving relationship between the jail warder and the brave leader. The former a racist who turns a humanity under the influence of Mandela, latter a stoic soul who never allows personal tragedies to cloud his larger vision.

There are moments when one understands the two men’s anguish, shares their feelings. Yet the feeling of empathy never quite stays. Largely because the whole film is like a showcase for Gregory’s transformation rather than a look at the world from the eyes of Mandela. So much attention is devoted to the warder’s personal life that it even appears that the leader is incidental to the plot. His character comes across as sketchy, a shade lopsided even. Though the attention to detail, particularly in the scenes of racism is welcome, the pace is sluggish, and many frames repetitive.

All along, the great leader’s political activism is shackled by the director often keener to show the good side of the warder.

Released here almost a year after its foreign screening, this biopic is still worthy of a visit. Simply because of the subject.

Of course Denis Haysbert with the unenviable task of bringing to life Mandela’s life, does not do too badly. And Joseph Fiennes as the warder is a good foil.

ZIA US SALAM

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