Mandela and de Clerk

The film reproduces the dramatic historical events of the negotiations between two warring parties: the African National Congress in the person of its leader Nelson Mandela ( Sidney Poitier ), and the Afrikaans National Party - state president of South Africa Frederic Willem de Klerk ( Michael Kane ). In the end, de Klerk launched the reforms that abolish apartheid , in 1990 he came and released Mandela after 30 years in prison, and as a result, in 1992, they jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize for the possibility of a peaceful transition to multi-racial democracy in South Africa ^{[ 4] [5] [6]} .

Howard Rosenberg in the Los Angeles Times said that although the film was shot in South Africa, it was not officially approved, possibly due to the violence shown there by black and white. He also noted that "... De Klerk is relatively favorably portrayed, although last year he was publicly accused of the notorious apartheid killings, knowing about the death squads that terrorized the blacks during that era. De Clerk denied the allegations, although he insisted in the Cape Town Commission that the blacks had “huge benefits” from the policy of the white regime ” ^[7] .

The famous science fiction writer John Varley , having recommended watching this film with the old pros Poitiers and Kane, remarked:

I write this the day after the death of Nelson Mandela, and the whole world is in mourning. All living presidents of the United States (with the exception of George W. Bush, whose health is not so good) are going to a funeral, and probably most of the other leaders in the world. Flags are half-mastered, and I cannot recall this for any non-American. Senators and congressmen who voted against the apartheid bill in the 80s, when Ronald Reagan supported South Africa, are now singing praises, damn hypocrites. As for me, I consider him one of my few heroes ... and I can count my heroes, for which on the one hand, and probably I don’t even need a thumb. Who would have imagined that anyone could steer this backward country towards the end of minority power and the start of free elections, with all the hatred, massacres, atrocities in prisons? And he did this not with revenge, but with reconciliation. People were allowed to confess their crimes and receive forgiveness. What a concept! I would never have thought that this would work, but it seems to have gone pretty well. Of course, South Africa still has a long, long way to go, and many people are far from prosperous, and Mandela’s leadership was bad ... But I really believe that he prevented a racial war that could still happen.

Original text

I am writing this one day after the death of Nelson Mandela, and the whole world is in mourning. Every living US president (except George HW, whose health is not so good) is going to the funeral, and probably most of the other leaders of the world. Flags are flying at half mast, something I can't recall seeing for any other non-American. Senators and Congresspersons who voted against the anti-apartheid bill in the '80s, when Ronald Reagan supported South Africa, are singing his praises, the fucking hypocrites. As for myself, I consider him one of my very few heroes ... and I can count my heroes on one hand, and probably not even need the thumb. Who could have imagined that anyone could guide that benighted country through the end of minority rule and the beginning of free elections, what with all the hatred, the massacres, the atrocities in the prisons? And he did it not with vengeance, but with reconciliation. People were allowed to confess their crimes, and be forgiven. What a concept! I never would have thought it would work, but it seems to have gone down pretty well. Of course, South Africa is still a long, long way from peaceful and many of the people are a long way from prosperous, and the leadership since Mandela has been awful ... but I truly believe he prevented a race war that might still be going on . ^[8]

Ph.D. Patrick Louis Cooney said that this film shows the appearance of cracks in the foundation of the white ruling party: “some ministers are beginning to think that blacks should be included in society. This is absolutely opposed to the stubborn, rabid racist, President Botha, who is comforted by the support of President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Thatcher. " In the end, Cooney notes, the new president de Klerk, who began negotiations with Mandela, who makes him understand his blindness, raises a revolt - “the theme of personal growth helps make this film more interesting, because we care about both men, Mandela and de Clerk” ^{[ 9]} .

• " Mandela & De Klerk " on the Internet Movie Database