Mandela and de Klerk (1997)

The story of how South African whites gave up their political power.

WARNING: ABSENSE OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

"Mandela and De Klerk" does a good job of outlining the official end of apartheid in South Africa. The acting was so-so, and the overall framing of the movie was subpar, but I'm giving the movie 4 stars because there hasn't been much in the cinema on the subject. Have to respect those that fill voids.

And, since the subject matter is so controversial, I want to comment on it. After all, no one is going to watch this film because of the acting or the cinematography.

The blacks of southern Africa were preliterate as the whites first arrived. Whites can ride the inertia of centuries of grand thought (and writing). I'm sorry that there is this imbalance of circumstances. But trying to destroy whites because of this is a manifestation of jealousy. Each of us benefit from our ancestors works, thus some benefit more than others. Each person simply has to work with what they're given to begin with. Turning South Africa into a land only welcoming of black citizens is even more racist than that of white-administered apartheid.

Look at Mandela. He fluently speaks English, Afrikaner (the language spoken at home by many white South Africans), many black African languages, and is more diplomatic than the entire American Department of State. One should rise from merit, not from supposed privilege. If benefits aren't attached to merit, you get the Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) situation of hunger and hatred.

Finally, segregation or apartheid is not inherently wrong. There have been down the ages many people of many different races supporting the separation of races. People separate themselves to compartmentalize socieites, whether by race, religion, economic status, or what not. Stratification of society is as natural as humanity itself. The first day there are no perceived differences between people will be the first day in tens of thousands of years that there are no people.

Good luck to the whites of South Africa. The violence and hatred you now face is the result of jealousy and senses of entitlement from the majority. Just because one is in the majority doesn't mean one is entitled to a privileged position.

Don't move from SA because of labels of "colonialists" or "imperialists." After generations of citizenship, your life cannot be that of colonialism or imperialism or the like. SA is your home as much as England is the home to a third generation Indian or America the home to a 16th generation white.

June 22, 2008

Time Mag called this relationship a fascinating pas de deux

"Mandela and de Klerk" is a 1997 made-for-TV docudrama that a history buff shouldn't miss. I didn't even know of this until this month (Could this have been so under the radar or was my rock difficult to climb out of?). The film chronicles the efforts of then South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk to release anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela from prison and pave the way for a new constitution and abolishment of apartheid. This is, of course, an extremely simplified synopsis of the film. The film itself is quite complex, primarily because the central characters - Mandela and de Klerk - are complex individuals, as one would expect of history makers. Their relationship was cagey at best, and both men seem larger than life, skillfully bartering with the powers they held and keeping at bay the forces that would have easily exploded into civil war. Add to this the magic that is Poitier and Caine, and I assure you, this will be one of the best hour-and-a-half you'll spend.

The negotiations between the two central characters dominate the film. To fully appreciate these exchanges, I found it helpful to brush up on some basics (e.g., the African National Congress and its raison d'etre, Die Groot Krokodil or P.W. Botha, the staunch defender of apartheid, etc.). Even without these preparations, the film is so expertly plotted and scripted that the viewer walks away having learned a great deal of Pres. Mandela's intelligence and struggles, and appreciating the equally intelligent and progressive Afrikaner, de Klerk. As god-like as they would seem, I admired the filmmaker's refusal to deify both men. They are depicted as the very real people that they are, faults and all. They resent each other, they attack each other, they abhor each other, and they make grand history together. What a film! June 7, 2008

Mandela and De Klerk

I was "blown away" by the emotion and honesty of this movie! I was so moved that I'm now reading Nelson Mandela's autobiography! October 1, 2007

Best Documentary-Drama about Nelson Mandela so far.

I have not figured out, why someone like Spike Lee ,has not done a film about Nelson Mandela yet.He could have cast Morgan Freeman.He was in the excellent short film ,'Death of a Prophet'(1972),about the remaining days of Malcolm X's life.This film ,'Mandela and deKlerk',is above average.But, would have done better if it had stayed true with his autobiographical story,'The Long Walk to Freedom'.I saw the deKlerk role as a filler and the film focusing less on Mandela's political struggle and search for equal justice.The long walk to freedom is not just Mandela's personal struggle and for his Afrikan people but all just people of the world.Let's hope another film takes a closer look at Nelson Mandela's story and credo.Before history repeats itself. December 16, 2006

Great Showing

this Made for TV Movie truly Captures so many Elements within the South African Commnunity.MR.Mandala&Mr.Deklerk were Portrayed Very Strongly respectively by Sidney Poitier&Michael Caine.A Strong Performance. March 8, 2003

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