Controversial Mandela movie starts shooting<\/p>\n
By Bryan Pearson<\/p>\n
JOHANNESBURG (AFP): Filming started Monday on the
\ncontroversial movie One Man, One Vote, the first of two planned
\nfilms depicting aspects of President Nelson Mandela's life,
\nproducer David Wicht said last Sunday.<\/p>\n
Directed by four time Emmy Award winner Joseph Sargent, the
\nU.S. Showtime Networks-backed movie stars Sidney Poitier as
\nMandela and Michael Caine as former president and now Deputy
\nPresident Frederik de Klerk.<\/p>\n
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) in a statement this
\nweek said the Showtime movie had not been authorized by Mandela
\ndespite the president's \"great respect and warm relations with
\nSydney Poitier.\"<\/p>\n
\"The ANC on behalf of President Nelson Mandela confirms the
\nonly film which has the blessing and authorization of the
\npresident is Long Walk To Freedom,\" it said.<\/p>\n
The organization was referring to a film due to be made next
\nyear on Mandela's life by South African producer Anant Singh, who
\nmade his mark internationally with Sarafina and Cry, The Beloved
\nCountry.<\/p>\n
Singh has been granted the film rights to Mandela's
\nautobiography Long Walk To Freedom and plans to make an epic
\nmovie of Mandela's life on the scale of Gandhi.<\/p>\n
The use of Poitier in the Showtime movie has been criticized
\nby the Performing Arts Workers Equity (PAWE).<\/p>\n
\"Our concern is for cultural veracity,\" PAWE spokesman Dan
\nRobberste said recently. \"We believe that actors do exist in this
\ncountry who are capable of playing Mandela with greater truth.\"<\/p>\n
Wicht in a radio interview last Sunday defended One Man, One
\nVote, saying it was a \"very important film.\"<\/p>\n
\"It deals with a crucial period of our history,\" he said,
\n\"when the former apartheid government came to the realization
\nthat they will have to deal with Nelson Mandela.\"<\/p>\n
The film explores the behind-the-scenes bargaining and
\nnegotiating that led to Mandela's release from 27 years in
\napartheid jails in 1990 and to the striking of deals which paved
\nthe way for peaceful democratic elections in 1994.<\/p>\n
\"De Klerk and Mandela changed the course of South African
\nhistory,\" Wicht said, adding that the movie focuses on the
\nrelationship between the two men and those who surrounded them,
\nand the negotiating process that led to Mandela becoming
\npresident on May 10, 1994.<\/p>\n
\"It is a celebration of this event,\" Wicht said.<\/p>\n
The film will be given a brief theatrical release before being
\nscreened on Showtime's TV movie channels.<\/p>\n
Wicht said filming, all in Cape Town, was scheduled for five
\nweeks.<\/p>",
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