Film Reviews

Goodbye Bafana

• Rating:
• Director: Bille August
• Starring: Dennis Haysbert
• Details: South Africa / 118mins (15A).

South Africa, 1968, and prison guard James Gregory (Fiennes) is transferred - along with his wife Gloria (Kruger) and two children - to Robben Island, home to the most dangerous ANC 'terrorists', including Nelson Mandela (Haysbert). Because Gregory grew up with local black kids and speaks fluent Xhosa, he is told to keep a close eye on Mandela and figure out how his mind works. Being in close contact leads the two would-be enemies to form an unlikely friendship, however, and slowly Gregory sees Apartheid in a different light. Adapted from James Gregory's novel, Goodbye Bafana is a massive disappointment, looking and sounding like a Sunday afternoon TV movie. The acting on show mirrors the half-assed approach to the film. Fiennes has the accent down and although he's front and centre for the duration, he really doesn't have a lot to do but shake his head disapprovingly at what's going on around him. Haysbert, a competent and often underrated actor, does exactly what's asked of him but therein lies the rub - his Mandela is a nothing character, and poor Haysbert - whose impression of Mandela is bang on the money - has no room to manoeuvre and nowhere to explore.

Review by Gavin Burke