After his father's death and backing out of an arranged marriage, Nelson flees his village and heads to Johannesburg, where he continues his work as a underground revolutionary.

Despite personal financial hardship, Nelson takes on the grueling task of raising funds for the ANC. Once he ends up at Robben Island serving a life sentence, his friend Oliver keeps the struggle alive on the outside.

Mandela is finally released from prison but his liberation does not come without cost as he is unable to reconcile his marriage. With the country in a state of contention, Mandela is the only man who can unify a divided nation.