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of "mandela, long walk to freedom" the final act of the leader's life played out offscreen. >> the founding president of our democratic nation has departed. >> mandela's two youngest daughters were at the premiere when they got the bad news. >> we want equal political rights. >> idriss elba will be the final leader to play the icon in his lifetime. but the opinion of his family looms large. >> they didn't want to see this sort of silver-haired fist pumping caricature of mr. mandela but wanted to see the man. the man behind the legend. >> the producer began asking the future south african president for the film rights to his story before mandela had even achieved some of his most iconic plot points. >> i was writing to him while he was in prison. >> the famous inmate doubted his appeal. >> i have letters in his handwriting, you know, modestly saying well, will people actually want to see a film