Filmen utspelar sig i Sydafrika på 1990-talet, under Nelson Mandelas tid som sydafrikansk president. Då Sydafrika är värd för rugby-VM under 1995 bestämmer sig Mandela för att stödja Springboks, Sydafrikas rugbylag, som ett medel för att ena nationen. Springboks ses av många svarta som en symbol för den gamla apartheidregimen, men sakta vinns hela nationens stöd för landslaget. Springboks kapten François Pienaar hårdtränar laget. Titeln till filmen kommer från en dikt skriven av William Ernest Henley (1849–1903). Henley skrev dikten när i tjugoårs åldern låg på sjukhus insjuknad i tuberkulos. Läkarna gav honom dåliga prognoser, han skrev då dikten som gav honom styrka att fortsätta kämpa mot sjukdomen. Henley överlevde sjukhusvistelsen och dikten publicerades 1888. Nelson Mandela skrev i sin självbiografi att dikten gav honom styrka att uthärda fängelsetiden.

För miljoner människor världen över står Mandela för triumf och hopp istället för förtvivlan och hat. I denna avslöjande film får vi ta del av händelserna som slutligen tog honom från fängelseön Robben Island till den yttersta makten och avskaffandet av apartheid samt hans väg till att bli en internationell ikon. Vi får också lära känna en Mandela som förblivit okänd för större delen av världen – mannen som älskar snabba bilar och kvinnor, boxningsentusiasten, den skicklige advokaten och den beväpnade frihetskämpen.

FARVÄL BAFANA berättar den sanna historien om James Gregory vars liv totalt förändrades av Nelson Mandela, den fånge han vaktade i tjugo år. James Gregory arbetar som fångvaktare och är en typisk vit afrikaaner under Sydafrikas apartheidregim, som anser att svarta är andra klassens medborgare. Han växte dock upp på en farm där han lärde sig att prata Xhosa. En kunskap som ger honom uppgiften att vakta Nelson Mandela på Robben Island, för att där bl.a. kunna rapportera information om samtalen mellan Mandela och hans anhängare. Ett uppdrag som får ödesdigra konsekvenser och som efter en tid, oväntat får James att förstå Mandelas kamp...

A drama that chronicles the life of Winnie Mandela from her childhood through her marriage and her husband's incarceration.

The time is the late '80s, a crucial period in the history of South Africa. President P.W. Botha is hanging on to power by a thread as the African National Congress (ANC) takes up arms against apartheid and the country tumbles toward insurrection. A British mining concern is convinced that their interests would be better served in a stable South Africa and they quietly dispatch Michael Young, their head of public affairs, to open an unofficial dialogue between the bitter rivals. Assembling a reluctant yet brilliant team to pave the way to reconciliation by confronting obstacles that initially seem insurmountable, Young places his trust in ANC leader Thabo Mbeki and Afrikaner philosophy professor Willie Esterhuyse. It is their empathy that will ultimately serve as the catalyst for change by proving more powerful than the terrorist bombs that threaten to disrupt the peaceful dialogue.

A documentary that chronicles the life of South African leader Nelson Mandela. Mandela is probably best known for his 27 years of imprisonment, and for bringing an end to apartheid. But this film also sheds light on the little-known early period of Mandela's life.

Singer Paul Simon and several African musicians perform a concert to benefit victims of apartheid in South Africa.

How Winnie Mandela went from innocent country girl to a fighter against apartheid.

Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine both received Emmy nominations for their performances in this made-for-TV movie. The plot follows Nelson Mandela's 27-year struggle to end apartheid.

The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute was a popular-music concert staged on June 11, 1988 at Wembley Stadium, London and broadcast to 67 countries and an audience of 600 million. It was also referred to as Freedomfest, Free Nelson Mandela Concert and Mandela Day. In the US, the Fox television network heavily censored the political aspects of the concert.

Eddie Izzard pushes her body and sense of humour to the limit for Sport Relief as she takes on an immense challenge - travelling to South Africa to run 27 marathons in 27 days to mark the 27 years that their hero Nelson Mandela spent in prison. It is a gruelling, uplifting and hilarious journey through baking heat, high roads and hospitals - but can Eddie make it to the final finish line?

Since its adoption in June 1955 by the Congress movement, the Freedom Charter has been the key political document that acted as a beacon and source of inspiration in the liberation struggle against Apartheid. It was reputedly the main source that informed democratic South Africa’s liberal constitution and a constant reference point for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and rival political parties that it spawned since 1994, all claiming the Freedom Charter’s legacy. Freedom Isn’t Free assesses the history and role of the charter, especially in relation to key political and socio-economic aspects of developments in South Africa up to the present period. It includes rare archival footage with interviews of a cross-section of outspoken influential South Africans.

With Nelson Mandela freed from prison, South Africa is changing fast - but big challenges lie ahead. In the township of Soweto children have taken charge of their schools, trading formal (albeit poorly-funded) education for incitement of rebellion against the injustices between the black and the white populations.

The dramatic untold story of 420,000 Cubans– soldiers and teachers, doctors and nurses– who gave everything to end colonial rule and apartheid in Southern Africa.

Explores the deep bond between Nelson and Winnie and their marriage in the struggle against apartheid. An intimate portrait of their connection from the early years through to the dismantling of apartheid and Mandela's historic presidency.

Newly discovered audio interviews with Nelson Mandela himself delivers an honest, accurate and definitive depiction of the man who remains a global symbol of justice, hope and universal human dignity.

Legenden om Nelson Mandela skapas i hans frånvaro under hans 27 år i fängelse, och när han släpps 1990 väntar Sydafrika på sin Messias. Vem var egentligen Mandela och hur byggdes myten?

This is the story about the life of the visionary Nelson Mandela. We follow him from 1918 when he was born, the son of the Chief of the Thembutribe. Through the years as a political activistc and political prisoner, to 1994 when he became the President of South Africa.