François Pienaar

Jonah Lomu is without a doubt the most famous rugby player of all time. His outstanding physique, his power, his speed, and determination helped revolutionise the game around the world. But Jonah is first of all a human being and one who has been shaped through rugby and its values. From the violence and poverty of southern Auckland to his glorious encounter with Nelson Mandela; from the glamour of international rugby to painful and lonely days of dialyses, Jonah reveals himself without reserve. With the testimonies of his friends, family and some of the rugby world's greatest champions, this film reveals the breath-taking path of Jonah's life.

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Rugby Union has long been viewed in South Africa as a game for the white population, and the country’s success in the sport has been a true source of Afrikaner pride. When the 50-year-old policies and entrenched injustices of apartheid were finally overthrown in 1994, Nelson Mandela’s new government began rebuilding a nation badly in need of racial unity. So the world was watching when South Africa played host to the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Though they had only one non-white player, the South African Springboks gained supporters of all colors as they made an improbable run into the final match where they beat the heavily favored New Zealand team. When Mandela himself marched to the center of the pitch cloaked in a Springbok jersey and shook hands with the captain of the South African team, two nations became one. Oscar winner Morgan Freeman and director Cliff Bestall will tell the emotional story of that cornerstone moment and what it meant to South Africa’s healing process.

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