曼德拉为自由而战的传记

One of the most inspiring stories of the 20th century has been brought to the big screen. "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" had its premiere on Sunday in Johannesburg. The film is based on the autobiography of former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The 150 minute biopic was shown in Johannesburg in front of an audience that included three generations of the Mandela family and one of his former cell-mates. Idris Elba play Mandela, although he almost missed the event after an asthma attack.

"This story is so much bigger than me, than any of us," Elba said.

The film chronicles the life and journey of the anti-Apartheid leader and father of the multi-racial "Rainbow Nation" from childhood through to rights campaigner and subsequently as the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Naomie Harris stars as Winnie Mandela and says she was thrilled to receive praise from her subject.

"She has seen it and she says she was very proud, she was very pleased, and she said that I have African in me...she’s really pleased and very moved by the movie as well," Harris said.

The film’s director, Justin Chadwick, says that remaining faithful and honest to the original story was vitally important for him.

"It was my job to create a 360-degree world that felt real and honest to the people that I was representing. So I lost my Britishness, if you like, and just wanted to live here and understand it and understand what I was portraying as honestly as I could, and that was my intention," Chadwick said.

Mandela was elected South Africa’s first black president in 1994, ending white minority rule. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid and promoted social justice and equality.

The movie is scheduled for release in the U.S. on Nov 29th.