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ERA
Did you know
Released 19 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Goodbye Bafana
2007 1h 55m EN
👍
6.9
SOLID
🥫
41%
ROTTEN
⭐
7.1
IMDB
★6.9TMDB · 167🥫41%Rotten Tomatoes★7.1IMDB · 12,301
HistoryDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
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.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Cast
Joseph Fiennes
James Gregory
Dennis Haysbert
Nelson Mandela
Diane Kruger
Gloria Gregory
Shiloh Henderson
Brett Gregory
Patrick Lyster
Major Pieter Jordaan
Norman Anstey
Jimmy Kruger
Terry Pheto
Zindzi Mandela
Zikhona Mda
Zenani Mandela
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Bille August
- Writers
- Greg Latter
- Languages
- Xhosa, English
- Countries
- Belgium, United Kingdom, South Africa
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Xhosa, English.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 3 countries: Belgium, United Kingdom, South Africa.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Bille August, shot by Robert Fraisse. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Dario Marianelli. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Hervé Schneid shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Joseph Fiennes and Dennis Haysbert and Diane Kruger carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0438859 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Bille August directs. Robert Fraisse behind the camera. Dario Marianelli scores. Hervé Schneid cuts. Produced in Belgium, United Kingdom, South Africa. Dialogue in Xhosa, English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Released 19 years ago.
- 2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Xhosa, English.
- 3International production across 3 countries: Belgium, United Kingdom, South Africa.
- 4Directed by Bille August, shot by Robert Fraisse. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Dario Marianelli. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Hervé Schneid shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Joseph Fiennes and Dennis Haysbert and Diane Kruger carry the top of the cast.
- 8IMDB entry: tt0438859 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Robert Fraisse
- Original score
- Dario Marianelli
- Editing
- Hervé Schneid
- Production design
- Tom Hannam
- Costume design
- Diana Cilliers
- Makeup / hair
- Pia Cornelius
- Stunt coordinator
- Anton Moon
- Runtime
- 115 min · 1h 55m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $30,000,000
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 41% 🥫 Rotten
- IMDB rating
- 7.1/10 · 12,301 votes
- MPAA
- R
Awards
7 wins & 6 nominations
Also by
Bille August
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Film Afrika
ZA
X Filme Creative Pool
DE
Key crew
- NovelBob Graham
- NovelJames Gregory
- EditorHervé Schneid
- CastingBilly Hopkins
- CastingPaul Schnee
- Art DirectionJonathan Hely-Hutchinson
- Production DesignTom Hannam
- Costume DesignDiana Cilliers
- First Assistant EditorGuy Travers
- ProducerIlann Girard
- ProducerAndro Steinborn
- ProducerJean-Luc Van Damme
- ProducerDavid Wicht
- CastingMoonyeenn Lee
- Set DecorationZaan De Villiers
- Hair DesignerPia Cornelius
- Post-Production ManagerVarujan Gumusel
- Head of ProductionVlokkie Gordon
- Production ManagerNatalie Rademeyer
- Unit Production ManagerNeil Van Der Linde
- Stunt DoubleJulian Koberman
- Stunt CoordinatorAnton Moon
- Stunt DriverPaul Pieterse
- CastingKerry Barden
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- escape
- prison cell
- jail guard
- south africa
- apartheid
- nelson mandela
- xenophobia
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical2007-02-11R
Also known as
International titles
- The Color of FreedomUS
- Goodbye Bafana - Mein Freund MandelaDE
- Adiós BafanaES
