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When we think of the liberation of South Africa, we completely associate it with Nelson Mandela and what he did was extraordinary, of course – but what she did was equally as extraordinary, if not more,” said [South African director Darrell] Roodt. …
“If it wasn’t for Winnie Mandela, South Africa would have been a vastly different place. It might have ended in ruin and chaos. It is, for me, the great untold story about South Africa. It’s the ultimate women’s movie.”
The film aims to overturn negative views of the woman who once notoriously declared that “with our boxes of matches and our necklaces, we shall liberate this country” – a reference to the method of killing suspected informers in the townships by setting fire to petrol-filled tyres placed around their necks.
Under apartheid she was convicted of kidnapping a 14-year-old boy who was later found beaten to death in Soweto. In 2003, she was convicted of more than 40 charges of fraud.
But Roodt said Mrs Mandela’s image was deliberately undermined by her enemies, although he insisted the film would not be a hagiography.
“Very few people know about Winnie Mandela. They just automatically associate her with one or two incidents that happened in her life, and label and brand her, but this shows you all the different aspects of her life.
“We don’t shy away from the controversies. However, once you see the film I do believe you’ll realise that those controversies definitely were often portrayed out of context for all kinds of complex political reasons. But it’s certainly not an advertisement. It’s not for Winnie Mandela, it’s about Winnie Mandela.”
Read the full article here.
“Winnie” is due to hit theatres sometime in 2011.
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