Musings from the Land with the Big Fancy Sign: Nelson Mandela and the Long Walk Home

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Nelson Mandela and the Long Walk Home

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear,

but the triumph over it.

The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid,

but he who conquers that fear."

- Nelson Mandela -

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to see Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom at the Directors Guild of America. Followed by an A and Que with director Justin Chadwick.

This was the first time I had

been to The Directors Guild

and was very surprised at the

hugeness of their Theater. This

thing must seat like 750 people

and the sound was excellent.

Although with that many seats

the chairs are bound to be a

just a bit uncomfortable. Kind

of like the chairs at The

Academy of Motion Pictures

and Sciences on Vine in

Hollywood.

Very plush but tiny and I don't know?

Their theater is like something your grandfather would have designed back in the day

and would have been considered thee high class theater going experience back in the fifties.

Where was I??

Oh yeah,

MANDELA!!!

As far as Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom goes I didn't think it was a horrible movie but not exactly best picture worthyness either. The Imdb rank is currently at 6.0 and that feels pretty much in the pocket. I felt it would have been better as a 10 part mini-series Ala John Adams as his life has spanned 95 years so to tell that story in 2 hours and 15 minutes does a disservice to his life. It did have a Ghandi movie esq vibe to it but unlike Sir Richard Attenboroughs 30 some year making of that movie this one felt a bit short of that epic-ness.

I was curious to understand how he ended up in prison but the build up to it was more about his family life and not so much the political and then when we get to prison it's very fast forward to when he gets out and then his running for president of South Africa so it really made for a good prequel to Invictus.

And even in the last decade of his life he was a fearless leader that never wavered in his honesty how he felt on issues regardless of how he may have been been perceived by other nations.

I've always thought of Nelson Mandela as my generations Gandhi and was one of those rare humans that is so committed to their values that they are willing to die for them. There are not a lot of people in this world who are that committed to a belief and today this world has lost a beautiful soul.

At the moment I can't think of anyone who could emulate Nelson Mandela or Gandhi but I know there are people who will never reach the height of fame these two have but in their own way are a tremendous immovable force and inspiration to people.

It only takes one person to effect another person
and to have that ripple through the whole of humanity.

And for those of us who believe that our essence goes on to

who knows where??? after this life

it is a huge motivational force to keep on keepin' on.

I can only imagine the life review that Mr. Mandela was privy to as

he sat there amongst the almighty creators today.