Newly elected President Nelson 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 union team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.
Acting
Freeman's Mandela—nuanced, warm, never impersonation
Direction
Eastwood's restraint lets the story breathe
Production
Recreating 1995 Johannesburg with documentary precision
Director
Clint Eastwood
Morgan Freeman
Nelson Mandela
Matt Damon
Francois Pienaar
Tony Kgoroge
Jason Tshabalala
Patrick Mofokeng
Linga Moonsamy
Matt Stern
Hendrick Booyens
Julian Lewis Jones
Etienne Feyder
Adjoa Andoh
Brenda Mazibuko
Leleti Khumalo
Mary
Patrick Lyster
Mr. Pienaar
Penny Downie
Mrs. Pienaar
Bonnie Mbuli
Zindzi
Shakes Myeko
Minister of Sport
Louis Minnaar
Springbok Coach
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Freeman spent months studying Mandela's accent and gait, then met him once—Mandela simply said 'I know you can do it.'
The real 1995 final was even closer than shown; Eastwood toned down the on-field violence to keep focus on national healing.
US
