Film Analysis: Goobye Bafana

Goodbye Bafana film analysis

1. In general, What did you like and dislike about the film?

Coming from "Mandela: A long walk to freedom", i like being able to see the same events and characters  but from a different angle. I also appreciate the unique perspective the movie presents, showing the "other side" of south africa's race struggle, showing white people's frame of mind and how they have been thaught to antagonize "coloured" people. 

I also think the movie played it a bit safe when it comes to the charachter of James Gregory, trying its best to paint him as "not that bad" and guilty, when in practice he was just a pro apartheid white man.

2. Who was the character you liked the most and the character you liked the least in the film? Why?

My favourtie character from Goodbye Bafana has to be Nelson Mandela. Like in all previous movies, he seems to have wisdom for every occasion, his capacity to not let himself be carried away by feelings amazes me, such as his capacity for pacience and an unbreakable spirit makes him an amazing figure to me. In this movie he seems so much lika a great leader, and the choice of making him speak Xhosa trought  the movie is a great one.

The charachter i disliked the most was Gloria. She serves as the counterpoint to Mandela, conflicting James Gregory´s beliefs about the existance of apartheid. Her racists principles makes you detest her every time she has a line, and furious when she tries to correct her children towards her intorelable way of life, maybe this could be an acheivement on the part of the actress, but honestly its easy to play the racist card and have people hate you. In the end his redemption seems so unbeliavable, unearned, and hollywood-esque for his character that it annoyed me.

3. How do the versions of James Gregory, Nelson Mandela, and Winnie Mandela compare between  Goodbye Bafana and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom?

It was really iteresting to see Mandela´s story from a third-person perspective, makes him a more misterious figure, but im may cause some sort of idealisation, or "myth" quality to the man he was. James Gregory´s Role was of course more prominent in Goodbye Bafana, when in Long Walk to Freedom his relevance was not that elevated. The opposite of this happens with the portrayal of Winnie, his role in this movie is diminished, and at some places really seems simplified, not being faiithful to her diferent nuances as a person and as a historical leader, somewhat comparable to Mandela.