Critics worldwide are praising Anant Singh’s film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom which has now been released in the United States, Canada and French- and Dutch-speaking countries in Europe as well as the Middle East after the movie started screening nationwide in South Africa on 28 November 2013.
In the US, The Los Angeles Times called the film “Astonishing… worth experiencing again and again’; The Huffington Post said, “A must see! Perfect artistry, amazing performances and pure inspiration’; Time Magazine proclaimed “Idris Elba and Naomie Harris are magnificent’, the New York Times stated, “a towering performance… intensely emotional and deeply stirring’ and The Boston Herald said, “the best possible biographical film about the great anti-apartheid leader… Elba… deserves an Oscar nomination’.
In Canada critics praised the film with Toronto Star stating “a potent lead performance by Idris Elba… impresses with his poise and gravitas’; the Vancouver Sun said, “a solid, responsible movie biography that touches’ and Twitch.com stated “Idris Elba and Naomie Harris are praiseworthy and lend the film vitality’.
French publications were equally complimentary and according to Le Monde “the film travels with emotion, magnified by Idris Elba’; La Croix said, “a moving epic… beautifully played’; L’Express stated “it’s brilliant’ and the movie critic website, TeleCineObs said that the film was “carried with conviction and a beautiful energy’.
Dutch critics responded to the film in Spits Niews & Entertainment and referred to it as “a solid, expertly crafted portrait of the man’; Die Volkskrant said the film was an “impressive illustration at an historic moment’ and NRC Handelsblad declared, “Justin Chadwick does some remarkable things with immense confidence’.
The UAE’s Gulf News said Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom “leaves you breathless… moving and delightful’ and Israel’s Megafon News stated that the movie is “full of cinematic charisma’.
South African producer Singh commented, “We are thrilled with the rave reviews that the film has generated in these international markets. We now look forward to the opening of the film in the United Kingdom on 3 January 2014 where it will have a wide major release on more than 400 screens.’
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is screening nationwide in South Africa through UIP.
