The 16th Man(2010)

United by the colour of the uniform.

The 16th Man is a sports drama that chronicles South Africa's unlikely victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, a pivotal moment in the nation's post-apartheid healing. Rugby Union had long been viewed as a white sport in South Africa, but when Nelson Mandela's newly democratic government took power in 1994, the sport became a symbol of potential unity. The South African Springboks, featuring only one non-white player, defied expectations to reach the final and defeat the favored New Zealand team. When Mandela himself walked onto the pitch wearing a Springbok jersey to congratulate the captain, the moment transcended sport and united a fractured nation. Director Cliff Bestall and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman examine how this improbable tournament run became a cornerstone of South Africa's journey toward racial reconciliation and national identity.