Attending a reception for the film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” were, from left, Philomena Lee, Bono, the Edge and Alexandre Desplat
Charley Gallay
U2’s Bono and the Edge gathered at a reception for the Weinstein Co.’s “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” Monday night at the Sunset Marquis. Their first song in three years, “Ordinary Love,” is featured in the film. Bono said the song “is a plea for a common decency in a marriage.”
“It didn’t feel appropriate to write an anthem for this movie,” Bono told the crowd. “We found a theme of common decency that inspired us.”
On hand were film director Jim Sheridan and actress Naomie Harris, who plays Winnie in the film, as well as composers Alexandre Desplat and Bran Tyler, producers David Foster, songwriters Mike Stoller and Diane Warren, and poet Rod McKuen. Philomena Lee, whose story is the basis for the Stephen Frears film “Philomena,” also attended.