Educational Media Reviews Online

The film makes the life of Nelson Mandela real and immediate for us. We feel closer to him when we see and hear members of his family, close friends, the Robben Island prison guard and colleagues talk fondly about him. Everything we imagined him to be is reinforced by this documentary film—a committed father of the nation, who by the very nature of his life-long mission, did not get a chance to lead a normal life with his own children; a dedicated teacher who motivated and inspired everyone he came in contact with to greater heights; a devoted leader who would rather fight injustice, racial segregation and oppression alongside his colleagues than go into hiding; a self-less leader who, in spite of his own personal tragedies (twice divorced, death of a son, imprisonment) did not lose sight of his goal to free South Africa of apartheid and replace the oppressive government with a democratic one.

Mandela’s story (his life, his struggles, his triumphs) constitutes a significant component of 20th century history. This documentary effectively brings segments of this history into our classrooms and our homes. Viva Nelson Mandela is certainly a valuable curricular resource, especially if used in combination with Mandela’s autobiographical works (The Struggle is My Life, Long Walk to Freedom, and Nelson Mandela: the authorized comic book).