Goodbye Bafana Movie
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Based on the memoirs of Nelson Mandela's prison guard
GOODBYE BAFANA is the true story of a white South African racist whose life was profoundly altered by the black prisoner he guarded for twenty years. The prisoner's name was Nelson Mandela.
| Joseph Fiennes | James Gregory |
| Dennis Haysbert | Nelson Mandela |
| Diane Kruger | Gloria Gregory |
| Shiloh Henderson | Brett Gregory |
| Patrick Lyster | Maj Pieter Jordaan |
| Faith Ndukwana | Winnie Mandela |
| Mehboob Bawa | Ahmed Kathrada |
| Adrian Galley | Brigadier Kemp |
| Warrick Grier | Vann Niekerk |
| Leslie Mongezi | Walter Sisulu |
| Sizwe Msutu | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Matthew Roberts | National security agent |
| Eduan van Jaarsveldt | Sgt Chris Brits |
| Terry Pheto | Zindzi Mandela |
| Giulia Troiano | Voice Italian Version |
| Bille August |
7.00 out of 10 (833 votes)
Visitor Reviews
A familiar story, but with a message of hope and humanity
posted on 22 May 2009Nelson Mandela plays an important part in "Goodbye Bafana", but it is not a biography of Mandela. (There is, potentially, a great film to be made on that subject). Rather, it is an example of history seen through the eyes of an ordinary man who unexpectedly finds himself playing a significant role. James Gregory is a white South African prison guard. He grew up on a remote farm where his only companions of his own age were African boys, and as a result he learnt to speak fluent Xhosa. (The "Bafana" of the title was a friend of Gregory's during his childhood). This ability has made him useful to his superiors. He is transferred to Robben Island, the government's high-security prison for black political prisoners, where he is put in charge of censoring the prisoners' mail and monitoring their conversations with visitors to ensure that they do not discuss forbidden (i.e. political) topics. The film follows Gregory's career and his political development from the sixties to the end of apartheid in the early nineties. At the beginning of the film, he is portrayed as an enthusiastic supporter of the apartheid regime who believes in the superiority of the white race and who accepts racial discrimination as part of the natural order of things. As time goes on, however, his views start to change, partly as a result of the violence he sees directed by the South African police and security forces against the black population, partly because he has come to admire Mandela and the other Black political leaders. Whereas he once despised them as Communist terrorists, he now sees them as men fighting to right the injustices which their people have suffered. This shift in his political outlook makes Gregory unpopular with other white South Africans, especially his colleagues who regard him as a "kaffir lover", and even leads to strains in his marriage. Gregory's wife Gloria is more conservative than him in her unthinking support for apartheid. Her main concerns, however, are not with politics, but rather with furthering her husband's career, and cannot understand why he is putting his prospects at risk with his political stance. There is little in the way of action in this film- we hear about the "liberation struggle", but for the most part we do not see it. It is rather a film of ideas, with the most important drama being the one taking place inside Gregory's head. The problem is that Gregory's transformation from reactionary racist to enlightened liberal seems perhaps too predictable. There doubtless were white South Africans, including members of the prison service, who continued to hold unreconstructed white supremacist views up until the end of apartheid (and in some cases even beyond), but it is unlikely that a feature film would ever be made these days chronicling the life and opinions of such individuals, so we know from the outset that Gregory's views will undergo a complete change in the course of the film. Dennis Haysbert was very good in "Far from Heaven", but here as Mandela he seems less a living individual than an iconic symbol of dignity and nobility. The German actress Diane Kruger seemed miscast as Gloria. Although she seemed more at home with the English language than she did in "Troy", her accent often sounded more British than South African. (Joseph Fiennes's accent, by contrast, sounded very convincing to my non-South African ears). She also seemed too young in the latter part of the film, when Gloria is supposed to have aged nearly thirty years since the opening scenes. Despite these reservations, I enjoyed the film, mostly because of Fiennes's excellent performance as Gregory. He is a basically decent man trying to come to terms with the fact that the ideology to which he has committed himself is morally bankrupt and the political system which it supports is, in the long term, unsustainable. (Although the apartheid government had always stigmatised its opponents as "Communists", it is one of the ironies of history that in the eighties and early nineties the South African Nationalists and the Soviet Communists began to find themselves in similar positions. There must have been many basically decent Russians during the Gorbachev years who faced precisely the same dilemma as Gregory). The film's political stance may be a predictable one, and it may be telling a familiar story, but its message is one of hope and humanity. 7/10
Good story with problems in the telling
posted on 15 Mar 2009This film would have been easier to watch if the makers had cast a total unknown in the role of Mandela. I like Dennis Haysbert; he's a good actor, but he was miscast in the part of Nelson Mandela. There's a point in the film when Joseph Feinnes, in character, does a brief imitation of Mandela making a public statement; he does a very convincing job of it, and I thought:"This white guy would have made a better Nelson Mandela than we have here". Do the producers think that any black actor equals any other black actor? Why not place some South African character actor with a long, distinguished portfolio in the Mandela role? It seems obvious to me. Why go all the way to Hollywood for someone who's clearly wrong for the part? It's not a bad film-the motivation is clear, the pacing is OK, it held my interest...it just didn't present a convincing Nelson Mandela.
thought provoking and inspirational
posted on 05 Dec 2008This film, based on two very important men, is emotional and sincere but overall it is believable, every single moment is significant and told gracefully. A real life movie based is supposed to be precise without getting too much into detail - otherwise it turns boring - and so is "Goodbye Bafana", documenting 27 years in the life of this prison guard. Things and events described in the motion picture heat up gradually, the leading actors are simply outstanding so that the two hours runtime seems much shorter than it is. Haysbert is terrific, even more than Fiennes and they're both superb for their parts, with them each moment becomes increasingly more touching
goodbye discrimination
posted on 03 Dec 2008Goodbye Bafana is a touching, thought-provoking movie. Extremely well acted, I loved Joseph Fiennes (James Gregory) and Dennis Haysbert (Nelson Mandela) in their roles, and Diane Kruger (Gloria Gregory) did well, too. The movie has the slow, a bit mysterious charm in it, as August's movies usually do. The color scheme was like African dust, diluted, sometimes almost raw in the scorching sun. Music supported various scenes very well, without being too prominent.The movie starts when a young prison warden James Gregory arrives to Robben Island 1968 and is addressed to keep an eye on Nelson Mandela, who is being imprisoned there for his political views. Gregory gets this mission, because he speaks xhosa, the local language, and therefore is able to read (and censor) the correspondence in and out of the prison, as well as understand what the prisoners talk to each other.James Gregory is a faithful supporter of apartheid. He believes these black men are behind bars for a good reason and he supports the government politics. After he and his family witness a raid in a busy street, where black people are randomly harassed, Gregory has to answer the questions of his children - and his explanations sounded shallow even in his own ears. Very slowly, over the years, he became to see through the apartheid and change his views.Dennis Haysbert was chosen to the role of Mandela, because of his quiet, distinctive charm and mental power. He did a great job. Joseph Fiennes was chosen because Bille August wanted an actor, who was tough and yet sensitive, someone who would be able to portray the change in the character in a period of almost thirty years. It was a very challenging role but Joe did a marvelous job.There has been a lot of talk about his South African accent, and mostly it has been praised. I followed it very closely, and I think Joe did fine in that area, too. In some scenes the British accent is more or less audible, but most of the time he does a wonderful job.Diane Kruger did a good job as James's wife, a mother of two, who was also raising their kids to support the apartheid. She opposed her husband being a warden for Nelson Mandela, because she could see that the close contact with the inmate made cracks to James's shield and his racistic opinions were vanishing rapidly. She tried to hold onto the apartheid views for much longer than her husband.The movie ends to a year 1990, when Nelson Mandela is released from prison after being incarcerated for 27 years. The era of the new South Africa was to begin.
Hand-picked for a spying job
posted on 18 Oct 2008This movie offers a chilling look at how forces of oppression prey on people who value civil liberties.The Apartheid-era's secret service finds out that a Caucasian male, James, speaks the native language of Nelson Mandela (Madiba), also known as the 'African Gandhi', the leader of the African National Congress, jailed since 1963 for allegedly inciting riots against the mainstream.They check James' background, and subsequently recruit him as a prison censorship officer - whose duties primarily include monitoring and destroying allegedly 'political' information, meetings with family, and correspondence. Prison inmates are only permitted to exchange correspondence and meet with family every six months while being watched by armed guards.When Winnie Mandela comes to visit her husband, James is able to find out that their son has secured a driver's license. He then reports this to his superiors, and shortly thereafter, Nelson's son is reportedly killed in an 'accident'.James continues to provide information, and is promoted. His wife and three children have been taught since inception to accept the oppression of Blacks as 'God's will' and not to question this. They have accepted that a line has been drawn between the whites and coloreds, and neither are permitted to mingle at any cost.There are scenes in this movie where police and security forces do not even spare infants. Taking the cue from the United States' history, public transportation has a separate section for 'non-whites' at the very back of the bus.Amongst this background the regime circulates rumors that the main agenda of the African National Congress is the 'extermination of whites'.This movie is an eye-opener as to how right-winged regimes, including Canada, England, Australia, South Africa, and the United States of America, initiate their own kind to spy and destabilize the weak and the oppressed, using the power of the law, the judiciary, and prisons to silence and even deport/kill who dare to speak out against them.Witness the treatment of the people of the First Nations (Aboriginal Indians) in Canada itself. It is no longer a secret that Adolf Hitler had sent a team to witness the atrocities carried out on them, so that they then, in turn, ill-treat Jews, bringing into question as to whether or not it was just the Nazis, as a whole, who were responsible for the Holocaust.While ostensibly Canada claims to be a leader in 'human rights', the so-called 'Human Rights Commissions', headed by right-winged political appointees and queen's counsels, at both state and federal-level, have continued to 'not deal with' complaints with open impunity. Their main agenda is to promote and create a false scenario that there is no racism in Canada giving it (racial discrimination),bigotry and intolerance every opportunity to flourish without any checks.While naive and often ignorant politicians are quick to point out human rights' abuses in developing countries, they turn a nelson's eye on violations carried out by the Government (all 3 levels, federal, state and local municipalities), local police services, unions, landlords, & c.. Some of these municipalities, and police services continue as exclusive clubs of the mainstream even in modern day Canada.Many are fooled by the 'greener' pastures of North America, and it is only after they live here for sometime that most visible minorities come to know that they are ranked as second-class citizens, just as their Aboriginal brothers and sisters, with just one right - the right to complain - and then be ignored, spoken to condescendingly, subjected to delays, technicalities, bureaucratic corruption and inefficiency, and never be heard. Lawyers (some of who end up as Judges) often refuse to represent visible minorities/aboriginals, very subtly and with a variety of frivolous reasons, in 'human rights' matters, compounding the problem even more, and thereby forcing many to give up their fight for their rights, while others end up in despair with emotional scars that never heal.Many are not even aware that Canada is not even a democracy, but a Constitutional Monarchy.Many have also realized that Apartheid-like conditions continue to persist in modern day Canada. As for the Office of the Ombudsman, the less said the better. There is virtually no accountability or even a monitoring authority on this so-called impartial office, created initially as a watch-dog for the people, but has now been reduced to a fierce government guard dog. It is no wonder that it is commonly referred to as the office of 'all show and no go'.As for 'Civil Liberty' organizations, mostly dependent on government grants and funding, are reduced to mere paper tigers, with little or no active involvement to improve laws that benefit vulnerable Canadians, leaving politicians, and government (all 3 levels) officials to carry on breaking a variety of laws with open impunity. A number of these 'civil rights' organizations are chaired by right-winged queen's counsels, and have a vested interest in maintaining a status quo at the expense of vulnerable Canadians.Kindness and compassion are a thing of the past. Period.It is thus rightly said "The true measure of society is how they treat their most vulnerable".
Apartheid through the eyes of the "little people"
posted on 05 Aug 2008Joseph Fiennes has always looked a bit like a spider monkey in my view, but in this movie he was better than in any role I'd seen him in before, doing what I thought was a competent job with the South African accent as well. Finally exempted from having to play the sex symbol, Ralph's little brother could finally concentrate on actually challenging himself with a complex role. In a movie based upon a true story, Fiennes plays James Gregory, a racist South African guard whose certainties are nonetheless shaken to the core over the span of twenty years – the time he spends as Nelson Mandela's prison warden. The movie's merit lies largely in showing us the daily application of a major historic abomination – Apartheid – through the lives of "little people", those ordinary men and women of South Africa thanks to whom it was perpetuated. These are "ordinary" white people who are neither heroes nor villains, but obtuse conformists. The violence of the system on its white citizens was considerably more hidden than on its black ones, but it was violence all the same: it was the obligation to remain as ignorant as possible. The alternative was to be persecuted by the status quo.Dennis Haysbert as Nelson Mandela was suitably stoic and charismatic, a positive counterpart to Forest Whitaker's villainous Idi Amin from The Last King of Scotland. Diane Kruger was definitely better cast as an "ordinarily" racist, suburban hairdresser wife and mother of two, than as Helen of Troy. By the end of Goodbye, Bafana, I was also somewhat moved. My major complaint with the movie was that like the vast majority of African-set, historical movies made recently, Nelson Mandela and all the black African characters were largely viewed from the outside, through the whiteys' eyes. These movies' directors all need to sit in a darkened room and watch The Battle of Algiers together sometime…
Great Story, Bad Acting
posted on 10 Jul 2008The story offers great insight into the recent history of South Africa and the general attitudes of the time. This is great since it hasn't been as widely acknowledged as it should be. Personally, I thought more movies would have been made on this topic. Perhaps even one based on current attitudes and life in South Africa.The acting by many, if not all, the actors was appalling. Dennis Haysbert was OK considering there wasn't too much emotion needed for his part as the cool-headed and calm Nelson Mandela. However, everyone else just over-acted. Diane Kruger was not a good choice. And why hadn't the chief from Prettoria aged at all in the 20 years that the movie takes place in? The only reason I stayed until the end was for educational purposes only.
A Friendship Defined
posted on 24 Jun 2008While many books and films about South Africa's Apartheid have attempted to convey the tension and the eventual dissolution of that sociopolitical scheme, few histories bring us as close to the core of the schism as does Bille August's excellent film THE COLOR OF FREEDOM. Based on the book GOODBYE BAFANA by James Gregory (with Bob Graham) the story details the relationship between Nelson Mandela and prison warden James Gregory during Mandela's long imprisonment on Robben Island off the coast of South Africa, and the gradual friendship that occurred between these disparate men. Studying this development of a friendship provides an opportunity to better understand the concept of Apartheid and of the evils of racism in general. Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert) was convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment on the desolate Robben Island for his non-violent attempts to end racism in South Africa, attempts that eventually resulted in work stoppages and resistance movements that moved the articulate, well-educated lawyer Mandela into the realm of activism. While on Robben Island he was guarded by one James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes), a pro-apartheid, cruel prison employee who was assigned to Mandela as a spy and censor because of Gregory's knowledge of the local language Xhosa (learned from his childhood when his best friend was a black boy named Bafana). Gregory lives on the island with this wife (Diane Kruger) and children and his commitment to his family provides a stark contrast to his hatred of his black 'Kaffir' prisoners: his involvement with the pro-apartheid status is strengthened by his direct communication with Intelligence in the cities of South Africa where his censored information from the prisoners leads to definitive capture and 'disposal' of the blacks. On a trip ashore Gregory and his wife and children witness first hand the beatings and cruelties of the whites against the blacks and Gregory returns to his duties on Robben Island with a gradually changing point of view for the model prisoner Mandela. They begin communicating in Xhosa and Gregory allows Mandela's wife Winnie (Faith Ndukwana) to spend more committed time with her husband on her restricted visits to Robben island. One particular misstep - Gregory passes Mandela's Christmas gift of a piece of chocolate to Winnie - threatens Gregory's status on the island, while at the same time bonding Mandela and Gregory like brothers. Gregory's life and philosophy have been changed by Mandela's powerful personality and spirit and his eventual release from prison into the new, freed South Africa has been aided in a small but meaningful way by Gregory - a reflection of Gregory's childhood bond with his friend Bafana. August captures the tension and the atmosphere of South Africa in this visually stunning film. Fiennes is superb as James Gregory as is Diane Kruger as his wife. Dennis Haysbert conveys the spiritual essence of Mandela despite the fact that his physical appearance is not at all like the Mandela known so well from the still constant photographs of the diminutive freedom fighter we see frequently. But the film does convey the tenor of the changing times during the 27-year confinement of Nelson Mandela. The featurettes on the DVD offer lengthy history lessons about the real events referenced in the film and add immeasurably to the film's overall success. There is much to learn from this film in addition to the fact that it is a solid work of cinematic artistry. Grady Harp
Note re Raj Doctor's comment
posted on 23 Nov 2007I'd just like to make the point that Raj Doctor of Amsterdam's comment above is more than a little misleading, as well as giving a rather simplified version of the long and complex history of what became the Republic of South Africa.He refers to 'the ruling British', a group apparently wholly responsible for the racism and violence which have beset the country. South Africa achieved sovereignty in 1934, and became a republic in 1961. The government of the country was dominated until 1994 by the Afrikaner community (a majority amongst white South Africans) who, as most people would presumably know, were certainly not of 'British' origin. One might expect someone from the Netherlands to know that they are comprised chiefly of Dutch settlers...Britain may be the former colonial power in SA, but was not the initiator of the post-war apartheid policy, still less the force which actually brought it about. Britain gave up its African colonies in the 1960s, so has not "ruled" anywhere on the continent in a direct sense since then, and has not ruled SA since considerably earlier than that. The particular nature of the problems which South Africa has faced are based primarily on the relatively significant size of its white population and their attendant rule (dominated as it has been by Afrikaners) not on 'British rule'.I enjoyed the film, by the way. A thoughtful and satisfying treatment of the subject on the whole, I thought.
nothing is as painful as an invisible wound...
posted on 26 Sep 2007this story chronicles the memoirs of warrant officer Gregory whilst being 'in charge' of Mandela whilst he was held as a prisoner.the story is good and the narration ample, but one cannot feel that the story is one sided as it comes from one persons view of Mandelas stay and how he was treated. it's not the most interesting film in the world, but for people who have a fascination of Mandela and his struggle, it is essential viewing. Haysbert is good as Mandela, but he has very little to do other than act laid back and speak wisely through the movie.Fiennes is good as Gregory but one cannot help but wonder why in the almost thirty years that this film spans, why did they only age him by giving him a comedy moustache. sometimes the plot can delve too deep into the mind of Gregory and it becomes a little too much too digest, and gives you less sympathy for the characters, but it does have touching moments, such as the stick fight between Gregory and Mandela and the final act when Mandela is freed.if you do not know the history of Mandela and the struggle and sacrifices he took for his cause, this will give you little insight, but the cinematography and soundtrack are beautiful.
Goodbye Bafana
posted on 09 Aug 2007Nelson Mandela – this movie is about him, and that is the only factor that made to select this movie.But the story is not about Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert) but about his prison guard James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes) who first serves as a prison guard (in 1968) for Mandela because he knows the African language Xhosa that Mandela and his comrades speak. He is transferred because he shows a soft corner for Mandela but due to international pressure is re-appointed in 1983 till the release of Mandela from prison.While seeing the movie one feels that what a great honor to have – serving contemporary history's most respected leaders as prison guard. Joseph Fiennes shows his range as an actor filling all ranges of age profile – being young and energetic to middle aged character. Dennis Haysbert portrays the role of his life time with gut, gutsy and tremendous respect and dignity – in being Nelson Mandela – an honor for an actor.The movie as rightly said by some critics is a history lesson of sorts. But please do not be mistaken by this comment. When I read that comment, I had two thoughts – whether I should go and see a history lesson? YES everyone who has a golden heart should see this movie. Every person who is by default has white skin should see this movie. It is simple, honest, and displays hidden prejudices of apartheid world that are prevalent even today in forms of class.As Mahatma Gandhi was called terrorist, so was Nelson Mandela was labeled a terrorist. He used arms struggle for making his point. He wanted the ruling British to talk with nationalist fighters – for peace. But British and their allied countries never agreed for a one-to-one dialogue and the mayhem of anarchy, atrocity and violence continued for more than half a century in peaceful and beautiful South African country. The local inhabitants were brutally killed by invaders who occupied most part of resources land claiming it to be their own mother land.My salute to Denmark Director Bille August who shows the apathy of human mind with everyday talks against terrorist – the same we talk today.I was fortunate to be part of the audience seeing this movie.(Stars 7.5 out of 10)
Too much jumping around...
posted on 03 Jul 2009I had great expectations for this movie as Nelson Mandela is by far the most important political figure of our age(second perhaps only to Ghandi), and as such he deserves every bit of homage that can be sent his way."Goodbye Bafana" should have been the paramount praise for this extraordinary man, yet it never reaches the potential that lurks just beneath the surface.One reason for this is the fact that the time frame that has to be covered is too big for the time set aside telling it. As a result, the movie jumps from episode to episode or from highlight to highlight because every aspect of the two men has to be told. This way of telling the story leaves the characters under developed and rather one dimensional. Especially the change in Gregory (Fiennes)from bigot to humanitarian seems to happen overnight. The leading men are excellent as the prisoner and the guard, but the pace of the movie is to fast and does not give time to delve into the relationship, because there are so many events that have to be covered.The movie receives 5 stars for the acting and the settings, the direction prevents it from achieving greatness.