Goodbye Bafana review

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Inspired by the friendship that developed between Nelson Mandela and prison guard James Gregory during the former’s 18 years on Robben Island, the story behind Bille August’s latest is almost too good to be true. Indeed it might not be true at all, Nelson’s official biographer having accused his gaoler of making the whole thing up. If you can handle a bit of dramatic licence, though, Goodbye Bafana should keep you locked in for most of its generous running time. Its central relationship brings back unhappy memories of Cry Freedom – another portrait of Apartheid viewed from a white perspective – but it narrowly avoids being a sanctimonious plod thanks to its leads. As Gregory, Joseph Fiennes makes a convincing transformation from racist bully to contrite acolyte, while Dennis Haysbert – no stranger to benevolent nobility after four seasons on 24 – does what he can to make Mandela a man as well as a saint.

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.