Þáttaröðin rekur vegferð Mandela frá aðgerðasinna til byltingarmanns og frá fanga til samningamanns, og hvernig hann leiddi Suður-Afríku til lýðræðis úr fangaklefa. Myndin af Mandela að ganga frjálsum út úr fangelsi eftir 27 ár er ein sú táknrænasta í sögunni. Frelsun hans kostaði harða pólitíska baráttu og menningarátök sem leiddu af sér alþjóðlega grasrótarhreyfingu og sprengingu í tónlistarlegri baráttu.
Engir framtíðarþættir skráðir enn.
The story begins in the early 1960s, when Nelson Mandela spearheaded the fight against the South African government and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Soon, a global anti-apartheid movement amplifies the struggle worldwide, especially following the murder of activist Steve Biko.
Mandela wins over his prison guards, but the persecution of his wife Winnie Mandela continues. As Margaret Thatcher and President Reagan reject calls for sanctions against apartheid South Africa, the stirring protest song - Free Nelson Mandela - becomes a global anthem.
The concluding episode explores the anti-apartheid concert at Wembley that was watched by 600 million people around the world, piling pressure on the South African regime. As Mandela's health falters and Winnie is embroiled in allegations of murder, a breakthrough leads to Mandela's release. But as he emerges from prison and leads South Africa to freedom, the personal cost of the struggle is devastating.
