MANDELA (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television drama charts the life of Nelson Mandela, Africa's first black president and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership skills, through 1987, when he was still imprisoned in Cape Town's Pollsmoor Prison.
The program opens in 1948 with the declaration of apartheid, a policy of segregation according to race. Afrikaner soldiers are seen entering native villages and terrorizing the inhabitants as they destroy their homes. Nelson Mandela, a member of the African National Congress begins visiting native villages to gain support for the first wave of protests, with the goal of liberating South Africa. Though he tells villagers that they must act non-violently, demonstrators are continually met with beatings followed by arrests. Meanwhile, authorities make plans to combat "The Defiance Campaign" by labeling the protesters as communists. "Trouble makers" are subsequently targeted, as when Sergeant Swanepoel is assigned to bring down Nelson. Along with colleagues Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu, Nelson is found guilty of statutory communism but given a suspended sentence. He is then confined to stay within Johannesburg and ordered to cancel publication of "The Freedom Charter." Believing that the charter is the catalyst for revolution, Nelson, Oliver, and Walter proceed regardless. The following day, Sergeant Swanepoel breaks into Nelson's law office and charges him with high treason, with similar charges going to more than a hundred fellow protesters. The trial continues for months, though the judge grants bail for those still imprisoned, including Nelson.
The narrative jumps to 1957 as Oliver meets up with girlfriend Adelaide, who introduces him to social worker Winnie. The threesome run into Nelson, who takes an immediate liking to Winnie and begins dating her. Winnie later attends the ongoing treason trial, during which Nelson is questioned regarding his feelings on white supremacy. When Nelson asks Winnie to help raise money for the trial's defendants, she readily agrees. Soon after, Nelson proposes marriage and Winnie accepts, leading to a lavish wedding. Three years pass and protests against apartheid reach a boiling point in Sharpeville during a peaceful no-work demonstration. When the South African police falsely claim that the protest has turned violent, troops are sent to quell the "agitators." A massacre results in 69 villagers being shot and killed. Nelson and Winnie, now parents to daughter Zindzi, organize follow-up protests when newspaper coverage reports on "the riots." The African National Congress is then banned and leaders jailed, including Nelson and Walter. A verdict is then brought for Nelson's high treason trial, resulting in his being found not guilty. Nelson returns home to Winnie, Zindzi and second daughter Zeni. However, the homecoming is shortlived as Nelson quickly leaves to carry on the fight. Winnie solemnly realizes that she "didn't marry a man but married a struggle."
In the South African city of Pietermaritzberg in 1961, Nelson tells followers that the real fight is only beginning. The head of police later orders Sergeant Swanepoel to find and arresti "The Black Pimpernel." Nelson finds lodging with white agitator Benny Franks. Meanwhile, Winnie's every movement is watched by police. However, with Benny's help, she has a conjugal rendezvous with Nelson. Later, Benny smuggles Nelson to the country to meet with chief Albert Luthuli. They set off plans for a series of explosions to take place across the country. As a result, Sergeant Swanepoel's attempts to locate the European-bound Nelson, as well as the exiled Oliver, goes into overdrive. Upon returning to South Africa, Nelson is placed in a new safe house, where Winnie is already ensconced with their daughters. Despite precautions, Nelson is found and arrested by South African soldiers and sentenced to five years of hard labor for inciting strikes and leaving the country illegally. Later, Sergeant Swanepoel gets a tip about the headquarters for the African National Congress and subsequently raids the premises. As a result, a slew of new charges are brought against Nelson, possibly leading to the death penalty. Defying the government in open court becomes Nelson's strategy. Nelson argues elegantly at his trial against white supremacy and for a new democracy in South Africa. As his arguments fall on deaf ears, Nelson is sentenced to life imprisonment and leaves the courthouse yelling "amandla" (power).
In 1963, Nelson begins his sentence on the notorious Robben Island, breaking rocks in a pit with Walter and fellow dissidents. In 1966, Winnie is faced with her ownrestrictions by the government. A year later, Winnie becomes more politically active and endures increased bans on her movements. She is allowed two visits a year with Nelson, with guards monitoring their every word. In 1969, Winnie is arrested at her home in the middle of the night and placed in solitary confinement. After 14 months, Sergeant Swanepoel interrogates her for secrets about Nelson but she remains silent. On her 17th month in solitary, Winnie begins to question her sanity and is finally released. At the Robben rockpile, Nelson joyfully shares the news with Walter. Meanwhile, government violence against blacks continues, climaxing in Soweto in 1976 with another massacre of protesters. Winnie attends a memorial for the victims and speaks to the crowd, crying out for vengeance. A year later, Winnie and her daughters are banished to the remote Brandfort in the Orange Free State with yet more restrictions placed on her comings and goings. After she visits Nelson again on Robben Island, he is moved to the high-security Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland to begin his 22nd year of incarceration. She is then allowed to have physical contact with Nelson. In 1985, pressure builds around the world for Nelson's release from prison. State President P.W. Botha offers a release for Nelson if he promises no future political actions. A guard urges Nelson to accept the offer, acknowledging that he has been behind bars for 24 years. However, Nelson has his daughter read his response at a press conference, stating that apartheid must be renounced for freedom to be achieved. Lastly, he promises that he will return some day to the South African people.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: November 30, 1987 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:24:04
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:32445
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Drama; South Africa - Politics and government
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 1987
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Herbert Broken … Executive Producer
- Robert Berger … Executive Producer
- Dickie Bamber … Producer
- Robert A. Goldstein … Associate Producer
- Leslie Linder … Associate Producer
- Philip Saville … Director
- Ronald Harwood … Writer
- Richard Hartley … Music by
- Danny Glover … Cast, Nelson Mandela
- Alfre Woodard … Cast, Winnie Mandela
- John Matshikiza … Cast, Walter Sisulu
- Warren Clarke … Cast, Sergeant Swanepoel
- Allan Corduner … Cast, Benny Franks
- Nathan Dambuza Mdledle … Cast, Albert Luthuli
- John Indi … Cast, Oliver Tambo
- Juanita Waterman … Cast, Adelaide Tambo
- Saul Reichlin … Cast, Bram Fischer
- Xoliswa Sithole … Cast, Zindzi Mandela
- Gertrude Rook … Cast, Zeni Mandela
- Mike Phillips … Cast, Denis Goldberg
- John Matthews … Cast, Attorney Joffe
- Eloi Fernandes … Cast, Attorney Ayoub
- Niel Native … Cast, Sergeant Van Niekerk
- Doug Wilson … Cast, Sergeant Maude
- Hans Woolfe … Cast, Sergeant Louw
- Kelvin Weare … Cast, Sergeant Van Heerden
- Julian Glover … Cast, Senior Police Officer
- Howell Williams … Cast, Senior Police Officer
- Peter Joyce … Cast, Police Sergeant
- Mike Davey … Cast, Police Officer
- Mbuso Pityana … Cast, Policeman
- Brian Cooper … Cast, Telephone Police Officer
- Jan Jooste … Cast, Yard Police Officer
- Peter Cartwright … Cast, Court Judge
- Dennis Sipthorpe … Cast, Judge
- Colin Neilson … Cast, Court Magistrate
- Andrew Whaley … Cast, Pollsmoor Prison Warden
- Andy Dipenaar … Cast, Prison Warden
- Dudley Dickin … Cast, Minister
- Andy Nimmo … Cast, Civil Servant
- Bryan MacKenzie … Cast, Civil Servant
- Liz James … Cast, Welfare Social Worker
- Alister Pulford … Cast, Reporter
- Simon Rhumba … Cast, Postman
- Edwin Angless … Cast, Estate Agent
- Simpson Korea … Cast, Bus Driver
- Tsokolo Muso … Cast, Singer
- Mannie De Villiers … Cast, Special Branch Driver
- Murray Russell … Cast, Special Branch Driver
- Dominic Kanaventi … Cast, Male Organizer
- Veni Sithole … Cast, Female Organizer
- Tam Mpofu … Cast, Young Man
- Priscilla Mundawarawa … Cast, Angry Mother
- Josh Macaw … Cast, First Man on Street
- Ben Silence … Cast, Second Man on Street
- Jane Esau … Cast, First Woman on Street
- Edith Mashore … Cast, Second Woman on Street
- Kingston Mupotsa … Cast, First Man in Restaurant
- Kasha Banjoko … Cast, Second Man in Restaurant
- Michael Chinyamurindi … Cast, First Prisoner
- Tich Mudede … Cast, Second Prisoner
- Chris Muchenje … Cast, Third Prisoner
- Maseko … Cast, Wedding Priest
- Shiri … Cast, Funeral Priest