
His people needed a leader. He gave them a champion.
Plot outline
Personal notes
Cast
- Morgan Freeman
- Matt Damon
- Tony Kgoroge
- Patrick Mofokeng
- Matt Stern
- Julian Lewis Jones
- Adjoa Andoh
- Marguerite Wheatley
- Leleti Khumalo
- Patrick Lyster
- Penny Downie
- Sibongile Nojila
- Bonnie Henna
- Shakes Myeko
- Louis Minnaar
- Danny Keogh
- Dan Robbertse
- Robin Smith
- David Dukas
- Grant Swanby
- Josias Moleele
- Langley Kirkwood
- Robert Hobbs
- Melusi Yeni
- Vuyo Dabula
- Daniel Hadebe
- Jodi Botha
- Hennie Bosman
- Refiloe Mpakanyane
- Jakkie Groenewald
- Murray Todd
- Japan Mthembu
- Albert Maritz
- Sello Motloung
- Meren Reddy
- Lida Botha
- Susan Danford
- Sylvia Mngxekeza
- James Lithgow
- Malusi Skenjana
- Bart Fouche
- Johnny Cicco
- Wayne Harrison
- Ashley Taylor
- Gift Leotlela
- Kgosi Mongake
- Given Stuurman
- Vuyolwethu Stevens
- Ayabulela Stevens
- Nambitha Mpumlwana
- Andre Jacobs
- J.R. Redelinghuys
- Mark Rickard
- Grant Roberts
- Scott Eastwood
- Mark Bown-Davies
- Dale Stephen Dunn
- Graham Lindemann
- Louis Ackerman
- Andries Le Grange
- Thomas Boyd
- Clive Richard Samuel
- Richard Abrahamse
- Sean Pypers
- Herman Botha
- Riaan Wolmarans
- Louis Pieterse
- Ryan Scott
- Daniel Deon Wessels
- Vaughn Thompson
- Charl Engelbrecht
- Rolf E. Fitschen
- Richard Morris
- Ryan Olivier
- Warren Edwards
- Andrew Nel
- Rudi Zandberg
- Renzo Puccini
- Abraham Vlok
- Geoff Brown
- McNeil Hendricks
- John Paul Chapman
- Sililo Victor Martens
- Epeli Taione
- Aukusitino Junior Poluleuligaga
- Patrick Bell
- Anton Coosner
- Simon Peter Blakeley
- Salman Safodien Davids
- Warrick Ireland
- Warren Taylor
- Karl Bergemann
- Jean-Pierre Van Zyl
- Mohammed Ridhaa Oamon
- Mark Snodgrass
- Theodore Groyers
- Gordon Johnston
- Conrad Marais
- Pieter Engelbrecht
- Bjorn Steinbach
- Clinton Prinsloo
- Yusuf Abrahams
- Jody Burch
- Wynand Collins
- Abu Bakr Davids
- Emile Olivier
- Zak Feaunati
- Anthony Burns
- Marius Erwee
- Mfundo Galada
- Michael van Schalkwyk
- Dan Visser
- Jethro Mickleburgh
- Ryan Williams
- Gareth Rowe
- Stuart Calder
- Jonathan Van der Walt
- Shane Vallender
- Abbas Hendricks
- Karlo Aspeling
- Calvin Kotze
- Sivuyile Ngesi
- Joe Probyn
- Eugene Butterworth
- Mzikayise Rala
- Brendon Shields
- Reagan Anderson
- Willem Mouton
- Devan Gericke
- Richard Williams
- Ashley Down
- Clint Van Rensburg
- Patrick Holman
- Sarel du Plessis
- Len Berter
- Shawn du Plooy
- Joel Serman
- Enrico Blaauw
- Warren Butler
- Jamie Holtzhausen
- Shaun Harding
- Callan Artus
- Juan Coetzer
- Jake Levin
- Keith Daly
- Shaffiq Nordien
- Richard Smith
- Edward O'Sullivan
- Jaco Pieterse
- Michael Ledwidge
- Hendrix Franken
- William Festers
- Henry Temple
- Dane Gallery
- David John Fourie
- Jadeon du Tait
- Riaan Van der Vyver
- Gerhard Gerber
- Ross Peacock
- Troy Futter
- Michael La Grange
- Morne Vletter
- Andrew Rose
- Brandon Hendricks
- Bradley Contereal
- Zuhair Achmat
- Pedro Noronha
- Tahir Achmat
- Faseegh Mallick
- Mario Jacobs
- Kurt Kuhn
- Mark Katzen
- Adenaan Bazier
- Brendell Brandt
- Stewart Palmer
- Ryan Roman
- Hyron Thyse
- Abu-Bakr Hendricks
- Gerard Pedersen
- Nezaan Bewee
- Niklaas Soutman
- Don Eiman
- Taariq Davids
- Claire Commins
- Mike Browne
- Mike Falkow
- Tim Lawes
- Sean Cameron Michael
- Matthew Dylan Roberts
- Stelio Savante
- Jen Taylor
- Patrick John Walton
Plots
Nelson Mandela, in his first term as President of South Africa, initiates a unique venture to unite the Apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
This movie tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) joined forces with the Captain of South Africa's rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of Apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's rugby team as they make their yeetboi run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.
Nelson Mandela's (Morgan Freeman's) release from prison and his ascent to a democratically elected President of South Africa marks a radical change in the country. This change away from Apartheid will not be easy for anyone in the country, but Mandela has to figure out how to galvanize the residents of the country together. Because of his love of the game, Mandela places his support behind the Springboks, the national rugby team. South Africa is hosting the 1995 Rugby World Cup, that being the only reason the Springboks are even competing in the tournament as its years on the sideline of world rugby events has not made it world ranked. The Springboks were previously considered the team of white South Africa, and as such was denounced by Mandela when he was in prison. But he does whatever he can to make it the team of all South Africa. He needs the support of the Springboks and its Captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) to achieve his unrealistic goal of the Springboks winning the World Cup, even against such rugby powerhouses the All-Blacks representing New Zealand. Mandela tries to inspire Pienaar to lead by example, much like Mandela has. Beyond Mandela's dream, his racially mixed security team has the added pressure of protecting him at the Springboks' matches while he places himself in potentially unprotectable situations.
Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) after being elected President, sets to bring his divided country together. But it won't be easy because there are those who still resent the presence of the Afrikaaners who oppressed them. They want to get rid of all symbols of their oppression, amongst them is the National Rugby team, the Springboks, which for many is a major symbol of their oppression. But Mandela chooses to stand up for them. With the World Cup approaching, Mandela sends for the team Captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), and he subtly tells him that he wants them to win the World Cup. So they train, but Mandela decides to show them for what they are playing by making them teach rugby in small townships and spend some time in the prison where he was held for twenty-seven years.
On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) was released after twenty-seven years imprisoned in Robben Island. In 1994, he is elected President of South Africa and he tries to unite his nation that is divided by Apartheid. Around the time of the Rugby World Cup in 1995, held in South Africa, Nelson Mandela invites the Captain of the Springboks Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) to come to the government palace for a tea and inspires Francois to win the championship with his team.