It's 1995 and after serving decades in prison for his involvement in putting an end to apartheid, Nelson Mandela (MORGAN FREEMAN) is now the President of South Africa just five years after his release. Yet, rather than get petty revenge on the white minority that imprisoned him and segregated his majority race, he wants to bring everyone together in reconciliation so that their country can move forward.
He starts in his own office, informing former staffers he won't make employment decisions based on race, and has white security personnel such as Etienne Feyder (JULIAN LEWIS JONES) and Hendrick Booyens (MATT STERN) join the black bodyguards, including Jason Tshabalala (TONY KGOROGE) and Linga Moonsamy (PATRICK MOFOKENG), who've long been with him.
His next decision, however, proves to be more controversial. Despite insistence by Brenda Mazibuko (ADJOA ANDOH), his personal assistant who fears a backlash among his supporters, Nelson decides that a good way for the nation to come together is for everyone to root for the national rugby team, the Springboks, in the upcoming World Cup.
The only problem (beyond them having a losing record) is that most of the country's blacks hate the team as they view it as an icon of the past rule and discrimination, especially with only one black player, Chester Williams (McNEIL HENDRICKS), on the squad. Nevertheless, Nelson convinces the sports commission to reverse their decision to eliminate the team, and then meets with its captain, Francois Pienaar (MATT DAMON), to encourage him to lead by example and get his teammates to play to the best of their abilities.
From that point on, Francois attempts to do just that, all while Mandela ceaselessly works to bring his country together as they watch the rugby team surprisingly make their way through the World cup toward the finals.