FIRST OFF . . .

Danny Glover--who plays imprisoned African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela in the HBO film “Mandela”--said Monday he was unaware that Winnie Mandela had criticized the film. “There are legal and political things that I was not aware of in reference to HBO’s responsibility to Mrs. Mandela,” Glover said, adding that he felt the film, based on the Mandelas’ marriage, helped “give voice to the terrible situation in South Africa.” Alfre Woodard, who played Winnie Mandela in “Mandela,” was out of the country Monday and unavailable for comment, but co-producer Robert Berger said Winnie Mandela’s phone is out of order, and that his production company, Titus Productions, tried many times to involve her in the production. “Her accusations that this is a ‘totally commercial enterprise and non-political’ are false,” Berger added. “I highly doubt (‘Mandela’) will make any profit at all, because that really was not the motive.” Winnie Mandela is said to be upset that she wasn’t consulted on the movie, and wants future broadcasts scheduled in 30 nations canceled.