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Goodbye Bafana

Goodbye Bafana

History · Drama · 2007

The true story of a white South African racist whose life was profoundly altered by the black prisoner he guarded for twenty years. The prisoner's name was Nelson Mandela.

Movie details

Goodbye Bafana

2007 History · Drama 1h 55m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

The true story of a white South African racist whose life was profoundly altered by the black prisoner he guarded for twenty years. The prisoner's name was Nelson Mandela.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Goodbye Bafana?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Bille August

Written by

Greg Latter

Joseph Fiennes

Joseph Fiennes

James Gregory

Dennis Haysbert

Dennis Haysbert

Nelson Mandela

Diane Kruger

Diane Kruger

Gloria Gregory

S

Shiloh Henderson

Brett Gregory

Patrick Lyster

Patrick Lyster

Major Pieter Jordaan

Norman Anstey

Norman Anstey

Jimmy Kruger

Terry Pheto

Terry Pheto

Zindzi Mandela

Court is in session

Put Goodbye Bafana on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.