Screenwriter William Nicholson claimed it did n't do better because of the movie '' 12 Years a Slave '' : " 12 Years a Slave came out in America and that sucked up all the guilt about black people that was available . They were so exhausted feeling guilty about slavery that I do n't think there was much left over to be nice about our film . " He also speculated that the death of Mandela resulted in a Mandela " overdose " among people , so that they have had enough of him when the movie finally hit the theatres ; " Suddenly the word came through that he died . We were deluged with Mandela stuff and after a week we all thought , please , take it away , we 've heard enough about Mandela . " Vincent Hiribarren , a lecturer in world history at King 's College London , notes in his review of the film for History Extra , the website of BBC History Magazine : " The film clearly depicted Mandela 's understanding of the apartheid years . Or , at least , what he wanted to let us know . As the film is not based on Mandela 's life but on Mandela 's own words , criticism levelled at Mandela 's autobiography can also be directed at the film . " Turning to the 1976 Soweto uprising , Hiribarren said that the film " did not spend much time evoking this pivotal event , because Mandela did not say much about Soweto in his book . The Soweto uprising was , however , instrumental in creating a new political climate in South Africa that directly led to the politicisation of many young South Africans . " Hiribarren awarded the film three stars for historical accuracy , and five for enjoyment
Soweto uprising
Soweto uprising
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom