Storyline

In the late 1960s, the white South African government imprisons many black militant leaders, including Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert), in a maximum-security prison in Cape Town. White guard James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes) is placed in charge of Mandela's ward because he can speak the Xhosa language and monitor the prisoners' communications. Over the course of Mandela's long imprisonment, his quiet leadership causes Gregory to rethink his previous racist views.

Plot Keywords

political prisoner, prison guard, warden, militant, racist, powerful, profound, cape town, prison, robben island, nelson mandela, apartheid, political activism, change of heart, race relations, transformation, quest, 1980s

Short Review

The film is most interesting when showing the ignorance of the Afrikaners. The film falters when trying to address the complexities of the political issues.

Trailer

Streaming Service

1. Amazon Video : Rent from $1.99, Or $0.00 with a Prime membership