Viewing Worksheet :

1. Read the four names :

a-Nelson Mandela

b-Naomie Harris

c-Idris Elba

d-Winnie
Madikizela
Mandela

a) Who are the two main characters in the film?

b) Who are the two actors who play these characters?

2. Think about the opening scene, where Nelson Mandela is shown as a boy
running with his friends.
a) Is the mood of that scene happy or sad?
b) That scene uses a lot of light and colour. Write 2 sentences to describe the colours and
the scenery.

Q4: Opening scene of Mandela as a child.

3. The opening scene uses lots of light and colour, but the scenes in the chaos of
Soweto are shot in darkness.
a) As you watch the film, identify one other scene that uses lots of light and colour, and
one other scene shot with little light and colour.
b) Explain how the colour and light are symbolic of happy times.

4 .Camera operators shoot scenes from different distances.

Close-up scenes are filmed very close to an actor or object.
Distance shots are filmed from far away.
a) The scene of Mandela hearing the news of his sons death is filmed as a close-up.
What emotions does Mandelas face show?
b) Name any scene that is filmed as a distance shot. Describe what you see in that shot.

5. Genre is the word that means the category or type of a film or book. Mandela:
Long Walk to Freedom falls into different genres.
a) In what ways is the film a love story?
b) In what ways is the film a drama, with excitement and lots of emotion?

c) In what ways is the film a biography?

6. Words can have a strong emotional connotation that is more powerful than
their denotation or actual meaning.
a) What is the actual meaning of the word boy?

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b) How was the word used during apartheid to express prejudice towards black men?

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c) Name two occasions in the film when Mandela is called a boy.

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d) By the end of the film the character of James Gregory (his prison warder) calls
Mandela Sir. How does this show that his character has developed during the
course of the film? .

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7. Look at the two stills from the film, A and B, below. How do the body language
and expressions show the different emotions in each scene?

Mandela hears of his sons death.

of prison.

Nelson and Winnie Mandela walking out

8. Write down three nouns that describe the qualities of Nelson Mandela that you
most admire..

9. Write down three adjectives that describe your own feelings after you watched
the film.
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10. The director of the film has said that he did not want to treat Mandela as a
saint, but that he wanted to show him as a realistic character. Does the film do
this successfully? Critically discuss how the film portrays Mandelas strengths and
weaknesses. (150 words)
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Viewing Worksheet :
1. What was Nelson Mandelas profession?
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2. Who was Nelson Mandelas partner in the firm?
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3. Name the organisation that these men supported.
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4. Give at least three examples from the film that show what race relations were
like in South Africa during apartheid.
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5. What is the first act of civil disobedience by Nelson Mandela shown in the film?
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6. Explain the purpose of this protest.
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7. Was this act an example of a non-violent protest?
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8. Look at Source A and then answer the questions that follow.

Source A: A significant event shown in the film.

a) Who is the man represented in the picture?

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b) What is he doing? .

c) What is the other name given to the object he is holding?

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d) Explain why this is a significant event.

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9. What /who do these words refer to in the film . Match them up !
The Boers
Afrikaans
The Xhosa

the second largest cultural group in South Africa after the Zulu-speaking nation.

The Dutch and the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers.

a West Germanic language spoken in SA and descended from Dutch. The mother tongue

of Afrikaners.

10. In which year was Nelson Mandela sent to Robben Island?

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11. For how many years was Nelson Mandela imprisoned?
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12. Describe how the prisoners were treated on Robben Island. Use examples
from the film to support your answer.
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13. Who was the President of South Africa when Nelson Mandela was released
from prison? .

14. When was the first democratic election held in South Africa?
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15. What made this election different from previous elections in South Africa?
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16. Read the quote below, then write a short paragraph about your own opinion
of this quote. Do you agree with what Nelson Mandela is saying? (150 words)

No one is born hating another person because of the colour of

his skin, his background, or his religion. People must learn to
hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love,
for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its
opposite.

Viewing Worksheet
1. What was apartheid? .

2. Which political party formally introduced apartheid in South Africa?

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3. In which year did this occur?
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4. What /who do these words refer to in the film . Match them up !
The Boers
Afrikaans
The Xhosa

the second largest cultural group in South Africa after the Zulu-speaking nation.
The Dutch and the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers.

a West Germanic language spoken in SA and descended from Dutch. The mother tongue

of Afrikaners.

5. Read the following quote and answer the questions that follow:

The movement has always been non-violent

not anymore
a) Who said these words in the film?

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b) What event prompted him to give this quote?

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c) In what year did this event take place?

d) What were people protesting against at this event?

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e) What organisation was formed in response to this event?

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f ) What does this name mean?

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g) Did this organisation promote non-violent resistance to apartheid?

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h) Give two examples of sabotage performed by this organisation.

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6. Look at Source A below, then answer the questions that follow.

Source A: A significant event shown in the film.

a) What was the name of the ANC safe house where Nelson Mandela was hiding before
his arrest? .

b) What is the event shown in this picture?

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c) In what year did this event take place?

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d) Name the two men represented in the picture who were also on trial with Nelson
Mandela. .

e) Where were these men imprisoned after the trial?

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7. Look at Source B below, then answer the questions that follow.

Source B: A significant e vent shown in the film.

a) What famous picture is being recreated?

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b) At which turning point in South African history was this picture taken?

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c) In which year did this event take place?

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d) What was the protest about?

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e) Was the protest peaceful? .

f ) How did the police respond to the protest?

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8. How did the rest of the world react to apartheid and Nelson Mandelas
imprisonment?
Use examples shown in the film to support your answer.
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9. Did Nelson Mandelas colleagues agree with his decision to have exploratory
meetings with the apartheid government to discuss the possibility of negotiations
with the ANC?
Give a reason for your answer.
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10. Read the quote below, then answer the question that follows.

During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this

struggle of the African people. I have fought against
white domination, and I have fought against black
domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic

and free society in which all persons live together in

harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for
which I hope to live for and to achieve. But, my Lord, if
needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
Do you think Nelson Mandela achieved his goal? Write a short paragraph
explaining your answer. (150 words)
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