Nelson and Winnie's relationship

Agreed,the film could have done a better job of that.I do encourage you,monstermayhem to read Mandela's memoir,LONG WALK TO FREEDOM.

While I don't expect some glossy depiction of this great man's life, I do wonder why everytime a biopic on a black man comes out of Hollywood they often feel it necessary to make philandering and abuse a major part of their story... especially when it adds little to the depiction of their overall life story and achievements. For all the many historical biopics I've watched over the years it's interesting that with a few exceptions (i.e. JFK and Jerry Lee Lewis) it's rarely done with non-black figures. As if they never cheated on or had a physical altercation with their wives/women.

Nelson and Winnie grew apart for political reasons. Winnie was too violent and reactionary in her ideas. She was a rabble rouser who provoked the people to action with her speeches full of blind hate and radicalism. Nelson was something of a terrorist early on, but he grew more philosophical and conciliatory later. They are kind of the masculine and feminine principles of revolution if you will.

The fact that Winnie was his public mouthpiece for years explains a lot about South Africa today, in my mind. The system of racial representation, the truth and reconciliation proceedings, and the liberal face are all Nelson's influence. Street crime, lawlessness, and anti-immigrant violence are Winnie's mark in the country.