SHADOWS ON THE WALL | REVIEWS | NEWS | FESTIVAL | AWARDS | Q&A | ABOUT | TALKBACK
Goodbye Bafana
4/5 SHADOWS MUST SEE MUST-SEE
R E V I E W   B Y   R I C H   C L I N E dir Bille August
scr Greg Latter
with Joseph Fiennes, Dennis Haysbert, Diane Kruger, Patrick Lyster, Shiloh Henderson, Megan Smith, Faith Ndukwana, Terry Pheto, Leslie Mongezi, Zingi Mtuzula, Warrick Grier, Clive Fox
release UK 11.May.07,
US 14.Dec.07
07/South Africa 2h10
Goodbye Bafana
Take a walk: Haysbert and Fiennes

fiennes haysbert kruger

BERLIN FILM FEST

Goodbye Bafana This gripping and involving film tells the true story behind one of the most important series of events in recent world history. Even a slightly overpowering sense of worthiness doesn't weaken it.

James Gregory (Fiennes) is an Afrikaans prison guard who in 1968 is assigned to work as the censorship officer on Robben Island, keeping an eye on the nation's most notorious terrorist, Nelson Mandela (Haysbert). Gregory is an ideal choice for the job since he speaks fluent Xhosa; growing up on a farm, his best friend Bafana was black. But Gregory's support for Apartheid policies is slowly undermined by what he sees in Mandela: an intelligent, gentle man seeking freedom and reconciliation. Over the next two decades their friendship and trust deepen.

This is a film about who really is imprisoned and who really is free. It's a movie that's based on provocative ideas, challenging the status quo and confronting officially sanctioned policies of violence and oppression. So it can perhaps be forgiven for slightly whitewashing things to underplay the violence unleashed by the ANC in their long quest for justice.

It helps to have a textured actor like Haysbert in the focal role. As written, Mandela is rather saintly, but Haysbert retains that mischievous sparkle in his eye and a world-weary stance that shows Mandela's dark past and growing wisdom about the future. His chemistry with Fiennes is terrific, and keeps the film utterly engaging as Fiennes delivers an especially solid performance himself, matched nicely by Kruger in a subtly meaty role as Gregory's wife.

Yes, since it's based on Gregory's book, this is another African story told through the eyes of a white man. It's also raw and realistic about the deep-seated paranoia and cruelty that underscored Apartheid. The horrific brutality of the guards and police is hard to watch, as is their use of the Bible to justify the fact that a minority of 4 million whites was relentlessly suppressing 20 million blacks.

Director August films this in a sunny, dusty style that feels utterly authentic. He also catches tiny details everywhere, and makes the most of the family connections: Gregory and Mandela identify with each other as husbands and fathers in increasingly potent ways. Forceful and timely stuff.

cert 15 themes, language, violence 5.Mar.07

R E A D E R   R E V I E W S
send your review to Shadows... Goodbye Bafana TahitiTatou, Polynesia: 5/5 "Beautiful! It made me cry! A universal message about giving one's life for an ideal which will speak to the heart of many people; specially (but not only) those who were once involved in colonisation. Must see!" (22.Apr.07)

John S Ross, Scotland: 4/5 "Although attracting the cynicism of some reviewers, white boys, like Gregory, growing up in rural areas of the Eastern Cape, even in apartheid times, have had amaXhosa friends and learned their language. Better to exercise healthy cynicism by questioning this as a 'true' story, as the authenticity of Gregory's memoirs have long been subject to doubt. But, factual or not, the film's sensitive handling of Gregory's change of heart and mind is entirely plausible." (2.Nov.07)

© 2007 by Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
HOME | REVIEWS | NEWS | FESTIVAL | AWARDS | Q&A | ABOUT | TALKBACK