Antoine Fuqua’s ‘Troublemaker’ lets Nelson Mandela speak for himself
January 26, 2026
Antoine Fuqua’s new documentary, “Troublemaker,” explores Nelson Mandela’s life beyond his iconic status. Premiering Tuesday at the Sundance Film Festival, the film reveals Mandela as a rebel, at least at first. Fuqua uses Mandela’s voice from over 70 hours of recordings to tell the story of the fight against apartheid. He collaborated with Mac Maharaj, an anti-apartheid activist who helped smuggle Mandela’s writings out of prison. Fuqua traveled across South Africa, visiting key locations in Mandela’s life, and learned about the resilience and optimism of those who fought for justice.