The movie starts with the release of Nelson

Mandela from prison in 1990, after being

imprisoned for nearly 26 years on Robben Island as
a political prisoner. As South Africa's first
democratically elected President in 1994, Mandela
knows that the country is extremely divided along
racial lines but he takes the challenge of uniting
groups, the Afrikaners and the black natives. The
victory of Mandela gives rise to jubilation for the black population
of South Africa, blacks want revenge for the suffering and pain
they lived during the Apartheid years, when the white minority
ruled and discriminated black people. The white Afrikaners feel
shame and begin to feel that they're losing the country. Mandela
understands that for the country to succeed there must be a
reunification, and he puts his new ideas into practice when
he forms his bodyguard group: "The Rainbow Nation
starts here. Reconciliation starts here. Forgiveness
starts here."
Rugby is the favourite sport and the great
passion amongst the whites of South Africa. Using the national
rugby team, the Springboks, Mandela is able to unite a nation
shattered by violence and racism.
He recruits Springbok captain Francois Pienaar for support among
the players. The team is made up mostly of white Afrikaners
except for one black called Chester, who misses upcoming games
due to a hamstring injury. For many black South Africans, the
Springbok name, its logo and colours represent the racial injustice
of
apartheid in South Africa and thus refuse to support
them.
One day Mandela invites the white Springboks
captain Franois Pienaar to his office for tea.
Mandela asks Pienaar a question: What is his
philosophy of leadership? Pienaar replies that he likes to
lead by example. Mandela agrees and gives him the poem to
inspire him to lead his team to a Rugby World Cup win, telling him
how it inspired him in prison.
"Invictus" was a poem that Mandela would recite to himself in
his darkness days in the Robben Island Prison. The idea of being
the
master of one's fate, and captain of one's soul, was
a
powerful concept for Mandela through his years
of
imprisonment.
Days before the final match, Pienaar as captain
of
the rugby squad claims that the team needs a
break. They head to Robben Island to take
their minds off the game. There, Pienaar
visits the jail where Mandela was held.

Standing inside Mandela's jail cell, Pienaar is dismayed to discover

how small the cell is and having only a sheet on the ground to
sleep on.
The final day before the match finds the Springboks taking
another early morning run. This time they are joined by both white
and black South African's cheering them on to victory. Before the
match the security team is nervous for Mandela, as it will be the
most exposed he's ever been since taking office. Suddenly a plane
flies very low over the stadium, the words 'Good Luck Bokke'
painted underneath. The crowd break out in cheers.
The final match is between the undefeated New Zealand
team and the Springboks. The Springboks win the match on an
added time long drop-kick from Joel Stansky, with a score of 1512.
Mandela and Pienaar meet on the field together to celebrate the
unexpected victory.
After the trophy presentation crowds of excited people, both
white and black South Africans, line the streets and wave to the
Springboks.
Mandela's security
team
is
seen trying
to
break through the
crowd
but
Mandela says that
there is no need
for them to hurry.
The film ends with
the final recitation
of
the
poem
Invictus
while
Mandela watches
the South Africans
celebrating together in the car.