Mandela: A look back at the biopic of his journey from prisoner to president
When South African film producer Anant Singh acquired the rights to adapt the autobiography of Nelson Mandela into a screenplay, the world waited to witness how one of the world's most celebrated icons would be depicted on the screens.
The autobiography, which was titled "Long Walk to Freedom" was published in 1994.
A decade on since the premiere of his biographical picture which chronicles his journey as he fought against injustice, oppression, and human rights abuse, to being locked away for almost three decades, to becoming the first democratically elected President of South Africa.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, the title of the film, held its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2013, and was released on November 28, 2013 in South Africa. Seven days later Mandela died.
This was no ordinary man, but the man who fought against the apartheid in South Africa and won. "Madiba", as he was affectionately called in his homeland, which is a title of respect derived from his Xhosa clan in South Africa, had to spend 27 years of his life in prison between 1962 and 1990.
Many would argue that it was this mere fact that immortalised him not only to his home country of South Africa but to the rest of the globe as well.
Dying at the age of 95, it was as if he had waited long enough to witness the adaptation of his autobiography depicted in moving pictures before passing on.
Being the iconic figure that he was, this was not the first film to be centred around his life, in 2009 he was portrayed by Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman in a sports biographical film titled Invictus.
In the Justin Chadwick directed film, "Madiba" is portrayed by acclaimed English actor Idris Elba, who is also known for his portrayal as a rebel leader in the 2015 film Beasts of No Nation which was shot in Ghana.
Elba, aged 41 then and of Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean descent, spent a night in Mandela's old cell on Robben Island while preparing for the role.
"You lose your freedom and that's something that you would never understand until you've lost it, after spending the night there I felt very angry because Mandela had to spend 19 years in that cell and that made me more determined to do a real good job with the film," said Elba in a televised interview.
Other notable actors in the film included Naomi Harris, who was cast in the role of Winnie Madikizela, a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician, and the second wife of Nelson Mandela.
Tony Kgoroge as Walter Sisulu, a close friend of Mandela who was also a prominent leader of the African National Congress (ANC) and a co-defendant in the Rivonia Trial.
Riaad Moosa as Ahmed Kathrada, another ANC leader and co-defendant who was sentenced to life imprisonment alongside Mandela, and many others.
The film received a nomination for Best Original Song for Irish band U2's "No Ordinary Love" at the 86th Academy Awards and won in a similar category at the 71st Golden Globe Awards. Elba also received a nomination at the 71st Golden Globe Awards as Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama.
