Khalo Matabane’s documentary, Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me opened the Documentary Section of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) and wow, did it open it. This year’s festival theme was 20 years of democracy and Matabane’s documentary can be described as the quintessence of these last 20 years. It’s the personal exploration of the director coming to terms with his self-created myth of who Mandela is, whilst taking us on a global trip as he does so. Disclaimer: this documentary – like all documentaries – is biased and constructed, right down to the the choice of interviewees. BUT. If you’re willing to accept that documentaries are often the personal journal entries that translate filmmaker’s personal thoughts and feelings (and bias) into visual products, then I highly recommend giving this a watch especially if you’re South African. I’ve already watched a quite few great films at the festival but none have moved me the way that Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me has, not because it’s touching (because there are times that it is) but because it’s jarring. It shakes your very core beliefs. It questions you … and then re-questions you.
I’ve been waiting for someone to delve into the complexity that is Mandela’s politics, decisions and the current post-apartheid South Africa that remains. I was highly surprised that after so short a period a time after Madiba’s death that anyone would be willing to ask such brave question about the man, the myth and the legacy that lives on, especially at a grass roots level. And Matabane does asks some very brave questions. There are moments during the film where I wished he would take his courage even further and answer those questions but maybe he wasn’t brave enough … or more likely, he wanted to leave those answers for the audience to reflect on.
The documentary venture on a heroic task of interviewing some of the world’s most recognisable figures including the Dalai Lama, Colin Powell and Henry Kissinger but the heart and soul of his narrative lies in the local interviews – the youth, the activists, those who loved, lost and fought. There is a dignity and beauty in someone recounting their own experience of pain, struggle, resentment and forgiveness that is far more overwhelming for the viewer.
The filmmaker explores a multitude of fascinating topics including the depth of poverty that still exists in South Africa. Without placing to much blame on what has caused this, he does explore the question of who is accountable at this stage in our democracy. And after 20 years of freedom, he asks audience members to finally delve deeper into what their own definition of freedom is, what it entails, what they envisioned and how close to the mark the reality has hit. Who was responsible for this ‘freedom’ and who deserves to experience the glory and privilege of this title? Some might say that it’s too soon and that after everything our great leader has accomplished, it might be dishonourable to tarnish his memory with a piece that may criticise his accomplishments. That being said, this documentary, to me, is an ode to Mandela. The filmmaker’s personal journey in reconciling his (and the world’s) idea of Mandela with the ‘real man’, who none of us will ever truly know may question his work and his decisions but ultimately, this film honours his life. It drives the fact that he is a world renowned figure for a reason, highlights the impact he’s had on so many and bears the acknowledgment that everyone will undoubtedly make – Mandela was a catalyst of change during South Africa’s darkest period and an icon of South Africa’s greatest accomplishment. The film nevertheless does leave you with the most important question of all: is the cost of peace really that much less than the cost of war?
Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me is available for a final screening at Musgrave Centre on 27 July 2014 at 18:30. To book, call 082 16789 or visit sterkinekor.com. For more on the Durban International Film Festival including documentary screenings, visit durbanfilmfestival.co.za
