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Mandela biopic becomes biggest SA box-office earner
January 8, 2014, 4:59 am

The film opened in UK last Friday and has been nominated for three Golden Globe awards [Getty Images]

The film opened in UK last Friday and has been nominated for three Golden Globe awards [Getty Images]

An adaptation of the autobiography of South African icon Nelson Mandela has broken box office records after “Long Walk to Freedom” took in 20643236 Rand to become the biggest earner in South African cinema history.

The movie was released on November 28, 2013.

“This is a film for all South Africans and we are thrilled that South African audiences have watched this epic film on the big screen at cinemas,” said producer Anant Singh.

The film has beaten records of other multiple Oscar-winning biopics, such as The King’s Speech, The Iron Lady and Lincoln.

It has also beaten the highest earner, the multiple Oscar winner, The Life of Pi, which grossed R20 567 285 for its entire run in South Africa.

The movie was produced by the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, the National Empowerment Fund, Videovision Entertainment production in association with Distant Horizon, Origin Pictures and Pathe.

The Justin Chadwick film stars Idris Elba as Mandela and Naomie Harris as his second wife Winnie and also casts South African actors Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Lindiwe Matshikiza, Terry Pheto, Jamie Bartlett, and Deon Lotz.

The film opened in UK last Friday and has been nominated for three Golden Globe awards.

“This is indeed a formidable opening. The UK audience is a diverse one and the strong box office performance shows the wide appeal of the film, especially as it opened bigger than Ali, Munch and The Last King Of Scotland,” said producer Anant Singh.

 

Source: Agencies