Ad break: Economist's Nelson Mandela tribute, Antonio Banderas

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/dec/13/ad-break-economist-nelson-mandela-antonio-banderas

The Economist: 'Mandela's Walk' (starts at 00:06) - UK

Perhaps Nelson Mandela's greatest legacy is the strength of the unity generated by the goodwill he invoked. So many people have spent the last 23 years naming him as their greatest hero that it's easy to forget he was a controversial figure throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The great re-evaluation after his release in 1990 made the recent tributes inevitable and – as this film for The Economist demonstrates – he has been fêted as much by the rightwing press this week as by those who agitated for his release from prison. 
Agency: Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO
Director: Anders Jedenfors

Centrepoint: 'Doorway' (starts at 01:35) - UK

A powerful piece that manages to hit home hard without hyperbole or hysteria - the lack of melodrama makes it feel as though it was written by someone with true insight into this situation.  Although most of the 'goodwill to all men' dimension has been sucked out of Christmas in favour of a materialistic free-for-all, it does still seem to be a time for reflecting on the plight of the homeless and this film reminds us this with an equal measure of pointedness and compassion.
Director: Peter Montgomery

Pantene Pro-V: 'Double Standards' (starts at 02:39) - Philippines

We're all familiar with the stud/slag dichotomy which attaches very different values to male and female behaviour and this playful commercial from the Phillppines for Pantene reminds us that it isn't just in the bedroom that the same conduct can be viewed very differently according to whether it comes from a man or a woman.
Agency: BBDO (Guerrero)
Director: Simon Cracknell

Carlton: 'Hello Beer' (starts at 03:45) - Australia

This trio of Australian ads for Carlton was directed by Flight of the Conchords collaborator Taika Waititi. Apparently they just grouped together some lads of beer-drinking age and waited for the antics to begin – as you can see from the three short commercials we've compiled, the young Australian males didn't disappoint.  
Agency: Clemenger BBDO (Melbourne)
Director: Taika Waititi

Kaspi: 'Antonio Banderas' (starts at ) - Kazakhstan

This is a strange brew... to say the least. Spanish superstar Antonio Banderas has apparently been lured away from his Los Angeles villa to spend a day in a branch of a Kazakhstani bank. His presence appears to have attracted hundreds of locals but they – like us – must wait in vain for a punchline.
Agency: G Force Kazakhstan
Director: Jonty Toosey
 
Jason Stone is the editor of David Reviews