'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom' Scores Strong UK Opening
/'Powerfully portrayed... respectful without shying from the uglier truths'' - The Gaurdian
Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom opened in the United Kingdom and Ireland on Friday, 3 January 2014 on over 500 screens and is expected to gross over £1.5 million (R26 million) in its first three days of release. It is also expected to be one of the Top 10 performers at the UK box office this weekend.
The strong box office performance comes on the back of positive reviews from UK critics. The Daily Telegraph said that the film, 'achieved grandeur... comprehensive and convincing', the Daily Mail stated, 'Idris Elba and Naomie Harris dazzle as Nelson and Winnie' while The Guardian said, 'powerfully portrayed... respectful without shying from the uglier truths' and The Express said that the film was 'handsomely made, absorbing and thought-provoking... tackles a huge subject with verve, pace and passion'.
Producer Anant Singh commented, "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."
Last month, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom was nominated for three Golden Globe awards: Idris Elba received the nomination for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama for his role as Nelson Mandela, Alex Heffes received the nomination for Best Original Score and U2 was nominated for the Best Original Song - "Ordinary Love" which was written especially for the film. The Golden Globe Awards ceremony will take place next Sunday, 12 January 2014 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
