Plot summary

After being elected President, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) seeks to bring his divided country together. But it won't be easy because some still resent the presence of the Afrikaaners who oppressed them. They want to get rid of all symbols of their oppression--including 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 what they're playing for by making them teach rugby in small townships and spend some time in the prison where he was held for 27 years.—rcs0411@yahoo.com