“Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me”

Apartheid, Yearning for Freedom, Reconciliation, Forgiveness, and Transition to Democracy.

The writer and director of “Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me,” Khalo Matabane, begins his film with him typing and narrating a letter to South African, anti-apartheid revolutionary, and former President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, Nelson Mandela, or “Madiba”. The letter begins with Khalo confessing that he was just 7 years old when he had first heard about Nelson Mandela, and states, “My mother was very hopeful that you would free South Africa from apartheid.” Khalo continues to reflect back on his own life, drawing parallels of the impact that Nelson Mandela made in history with his upbringing, as he lived through this historical time.

Khalo recalls going to the store with his grandparents in the 1980′s and the humiliation they felt when they had to buy goods from the window, while the whites were allowed to shop from inside.

At Grand Parade, Cape Town, on the 11th of February, 1990, when Nelson Mandela was released after serving 27 years in prison, he humbly greeted the crowd stating, “I stand here before you, not as a person, but as a humble servant for you, the people.”

Activists, leaders, and photo journalists, Greg Marinovich (photojournalist), Zubeida Jaffer (journalist and activist), Ronald Kasrils (Minister of Intelligence 2004-2008), His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Retired Political Leader in Exile), Binyavanga Wainaina (Writer), Elia Suleiman (Filmmaker), General Colin Powell, Selina Williams (Activist), Albie Sachs, John Carlin (Writer and Journalist), Professor Adam Habib, Nkwame Cedile (Activist), pay their respects to Mandela and discuss his “magnetism,” “leadership qualities,” “charm,” “anger,” “forgiving,” characteristics.

“There are no miracles. People fought for freedom and paid a huge price.”

“During my lifetime, I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against White domination, I have fought agains Black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for, and to see realized. But my lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Nelson Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013)

June 13, 2014

9:30 PM / IFC Center
Screening followed by discussion with filmmaker Khalo Matabane
Presented with: African Film Festival, Inc., www.africanfilmny.org

June 14, 2014
6:30 PM / Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater
Screening followed by discussion with filmmaker Khalo Matabane
Presented with: African Film Festival, Inc., www.africanfilmny.org

Article by Sharon Abella
One World Cinema

http://1worldcinema.com