South Africa, 1968, 25 million blacks are ruled by a minority of 4 million whites under the brutal Apartheid regime. Black people have no vote, no land rights, no rights to freedom of movement, to own a business, to housing or education. Determined to retain power, whites ban all black opposition organisations, forcing their leaders into exile or imprisoning them for life on Robben Island. James Gregory, a typical white Afrikanaer, regards blacks as sub-human. Having grown up on a farm in the Transkei, he learned to speak Xhosa at an early age. This makes him an ideal choice to become the warden in charge of Mandela and his comrades on Robben Island. After all, Gregory speaks their language...