Plot

A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

Nelson Mandela is a South African lawyer who joins the African National Congress in the 1940s when the law under the Apartheid system's brutal tyranny proves useless for his people. Forced to abandon peaceful protest for armed resistance after the Sharpeville Massacre, Mandela pays the price when he and his comrades are sentenced to life imprisonment for treason while his wife, Winnie, is abused by the authorities herself. Over the decades in chains, Mandela's spirit is unbowed as his struggle goes on in and beyond his captivity to become an international cause. However, as Winnie's determination hardens over the years into a violent ruthlessness, Nelson's own stature rises until he becomes the renowned leader of his movement. That status would be put to the test as his release nears and a way must be found to win a peaceful victory that will leave his country, and all its peoples, unstained.—Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

Based on South African President Nelson Mandela's (Idris Elba) autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country's once segregated society.

Mandela was born to a middle-class family of the Xhosa tribe & indoctrinated into manhood in a traditional ceremony. He studied law & was a barrister in a Johannesburg court in 1942 in an apartheid society. He takes cases to protect innocent native African people being unjustly prosecuted in a white dominated society. Mandela is angry when a native African friend is beaten to death by the police in custody, after he was arrested for not having a pass on him. The court refuses to admit a case, saying that police cannot be lying (who say that the man died of liquor poisoning).

Evelyn Mase (Terry Pheto) is Mandela's wife & nudges him into politics to take the fight to the next level. Walter Sisulu (Tony Kgoroge) represents the local chapter of the African National Congress & wants to recruit Mandela as he sees him as an inspiration to the entire native African community. Walter then demonstrates the power of the people to Mandela by organizing a mass protest in response to government action to raise bus rates.

in 1948, the government imposes segregation of whites and native Africans. Mandela is portrayed as a womanizer who has many affairs. He even beats his wife, when she becomes aware of his affairs & tries to protest them. Finally, Evelyn decides to abandon Mandela. In response to segregation, Mandela joins the ANC & organizes mass demonstrations against imposed laws. He even breaks the segregation laws & openly courts arrest.

Mandela then meets Winnie Madikizela (Naomie Harris) during his work with the ANC. Winnie is a social worker. After a quick romance, Mandela marries Winnie in a traditional ceremony. By 1960, the segregation laws become tougher with native Africans required to carry their ID cards on their person at all times. In a public protest outside a local police station, the station commander opened fire on an unarmed civilian population, killing more than a 100 people. Mandela starts raising the armed brigade of the ANC. The govt starts to hunt for him & he goes underground.

While on the run, he learns the art of bomb making as well. The ANC starts bombing the empty government offices. The government responds by arresting all high command of ANC, including Mandela & putting them on trial. The entire ANC high command is given life imprisonment & transferred to Robben Island in 1963.

In prison, Mandela is continually harassed. He is no allowed to get any mail from family & he is mentally tortured by the guards. Outside the government makes it a point to harass Mandela's family. In 1969 Winnie is arrested, removed from her 2 daughters & kept in solitary confinement for 16 months before being released in 1970.

Riots break out all over the country protesting the apartheid policy as hundreds are arrested & put into jails. A new batch of inmates at Robben Island inform Mandela about the uprising in the rest of the country. A massive protest is launched in 1981 to free Mandela & South Africa. The government reacts & shifts Mandela to Cape Town prison from Robben Island. The white president of South Africa makes an offer to release Mandela if he agrees to shun violence. Mandela refuses the offer saying that the government has to abandon apartheid & the oppression of native Africans for the violence to stop.

The south African government starts secret negotiations with Mandela (1:1) to agree to some sort of settlement to stabilize South Africa. Mandela's other ANC colleagues oppose these secret negotiations with Mandela alone & they want to be made part of it, but Mandela goes ahead none the less.

he is moved from the Cape Town prison into house arrest on his 70th birthday. His family is allowed to visit. Mandela has turned moderate in his views & understands that the white minority fears revenge if they devolve power to the native Africans. Mandela wants to assure them of no revenge, but Winnie doesn't support him as she has seen too native African blood flowing down the streets through the years.

Mandela is finally released from custody on 11th Feb 1990 & goes back home to Joburg. The newly elected South African president has been asked by British Monarchy to find a way to end the violence. The Whites propose a power sharing formula, which Mandela wants to accept, but the ANC & Winnie herself are bitterly opposed to it. Winnie vows to fight for the people & the rioting on the streets continues.

Mandela confronts Winnie to stop the violence, but she refuses. Proof emerges of her affairs & Mandela is forced to separate from her. After many more riots, Mandela goes on national TV & pleads for peace. He tells his people to vote instead of fight. on 27th Feb 1994, in the first open elections in SA, ANC is voted to power.