Film pays tribute to Nelson Mandela

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is an upcoming biographical film, based on the autobiography by anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela. Actor Idris Elba says he was inspired by Mandela’s story and felt a strong connection after playing him in the film. “Absolutely more connected but I think I was always connected with him and his story and I was completely honoured to play the role. Completely honoured.” However it’s not the only recent film to be made about Mandela. Clint Eastwood directed the 2009 film Invictus, starring Morgan Freeman as President Mandela and Matt Damon as François Pienaar, the captain of South African rugby union team, the Springboks. “Morgan called me and asked me to do it (the film). I did not even know it was about Mandela, but when I read it I was enthusiastic not just because I admired Mr Mandela but also because I did not know about this particular moment in history and what great effect it had on the reconciliation of the country,” Eastwood said. The leader of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement, Mandela spent 27 years in prison while fighting against colonialism in the country. He was freed in 1990 and became South Africa’s first black president in 1994.