Zindzi Mandela approves of movie on her ailing father's life story

The long-awaited movie on Nelson Mandela's life has been described as a "very emotional" and accurate portrayal by one of his daughters.

The movie , largely based on his autobiography of the same title, traces the life of the anti-apartheid hero from his childhood in the rural Eastern Cape to his election in 1994 as the country's first black president.

The release comes as South Africa remains on edge about the health of the peace icon who spent three months in hospital in a critical condition with a lung infection this year.

He has been receiving intensive nursing care at his Johannesburg home since being discharged on September 1, and updates on his health and welfare from government and family have been sporadic.

Zindzi Mandela, 53, one of Mandela's daughters with ex-wife Winnie Mandela, praised the realistic, but deeply emotional, portrayal of her father's life in the 21/2-hour film.

"It was very emotional to watch it. Honestly it was very difficult ... At the same time, the love that kept the family together comes through in the film. And the fact that my father left ... and my mother continued the struggle," said Zindzi, who grew up while her father was in jail.

Zindzi said she found South African producer Anant Singh's "ability to summarise so many life experiences of my father, my mother and ourselves simply incredible".