Goodbye Bafana

Play trailer

Goodbye Bafana

R

Released Dec 14, 2007

1h 58m

Biography

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

44%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In the late 1960s, the white South African government imprisons many black militant leaders, including Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert), in a maximum-security prison in Cape Town. White guard James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes) is placed in charge of Mandela's ward because he can speak the Xhosa language and monitor the prisoners' communications. Over the course of Mandela's long imprisonment, his quiet leadership causes Gregory to rethink his previous racist views.

John Hartl

Seattle Times

Director August once had a knack for telling stories of adolescent bonds, and he makes good use of one childhood flashback and a scene in which Bafana and Mandela blend into one person. For a moment, he achieves a balance the rest of the film lacks.

Rated: 1.5/4

Dec 14, 2007

Full Review

Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Sincere as it patently is, and perfectly competently made, Goodbye Bafana progresses through the last years of the apartheid regime at a snail's pace.

Rated: 2/5

May 11, 2007

Full Review

Independent (UK)

The script is lumpen and prosaic, the performances so-so, and the passage of the years deeply unconvincing.

Rated: 2/5

May 11, 2007

Full Review

Bill White

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The film is most interesting when showing the ignorance of the Afrikaners. The film falters when trying to address the complexities of the political issues.

Rated: B-

Dec 13, 2007

Full Review

Andrew Wright

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

Another well-meaning, dopily prosaic movie of the sort that often gets a mercy nomination thrown its way ... Does a severe disservice to a truly great history.

Dec 12, 2007

Full Review

Matthew Turner

ViewLondon

n engaging, inspirational and ultimately uplifting drama with superb performances from its two leads.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 9, 2007

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Great movie Great acting

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/27/20

Full Review

Mary M

One of the most powerful movies ever. Loved every minute.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/13/18

Full Review

Kevin R

Welcome to hell you heathen bastards A guard is promoted to a prison facility. He is instantly assigned a position of guarding the most infamous inmate in the cell, Nelson Mandela. His career gets on the fast track to numerous promotions during his twenty year run in the position, but his relationship with Mandela put the officer and his family at risk. "One letter every six months and no more than 600 words." Bille August, director of The House of the Spirits, Pelle the Conqueror, Les Miserables (1998), Zappa, Buster's World, and A Song for Martin, delivers The Color of Freedom. The storyline for this picture is very interesting because of the characters involved and the behind the scenes relationships are well portrayed. The acting is pretty good and includes Joseph Fiennes, Dennis Haysbert, Diane Kruger, Patrick Lyster, and Terry Pheto. "You can't keep a secret." I randomly came across this when Fios recommended it to me so I DVR'd it. This was interesting and I did enjoy the characters; however, I think they could have selected a better Mandela actor. Overall this is worth seeing once but far from a classic. "I would rather remain here, on this island." Grade: C+/B-

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/23/16

Full Review

Thomas A

A deeply emotional movie about how Nelson Mandela influenced the people around him during his imprisonment... The movie focuses more on the human side of Afrikaners as opposed to the political side.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/13

Full Review

John H

I thought this was an excellent movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/05/12

Full Review

Greg W

well acted sorta bio-pic/period piece

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/23/12

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Bille August

Director

Joseph Fiennes

James Gregory

Dennis Haysbert

Nelson Mandela

Diane Kruger

Gloria Gregory

Faith Ndukwana

Winnie Mandela

Terry Pheto

Zindzi Mandela

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

12 Years a Slave

95%

90%

12 Years a Slave

Watchlist

TRAILER

for 12 Years a Slave

The Last Station

70%

67%

The Last Station

Watchlist

The Railway Man

67%

68%

The Railway Man

Watchlist

J. Edgar

44%

44%

J. Edgar

Watchlist

The Birth of a Nation

72%

71%

The Birth of a Nation

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Birth of a Nation

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critical Consensus: I Am Legend All Over the Map, Chipmunks Hits Sour Note

View more photos

Synopsis

In the late 1960s, the white South African government imprisons many black militant leaders, including Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert), in a maximum-security prison in Cape Town. White guard James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes) is placed in charge of Mandela's ward because he can speak the Xhosa language and monitor the prisoners' communications. Over the course of Mandela's long imprisonment, his quiet leadership causes Gregory to rethink his previous racist views.

Director: Bille August
Screenwriter: Greg Latter, Bille August
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Film Afrika, X-Filme Creative Pool, Thema Production
Rating: R (Some Sexual References|Language)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 31, 2016
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital