The 16th Man (2010)

United by the colour of the uniform.

The 16th Man (2010) poster

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.

Director: Clifford Bestall
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 53 min
Release Date:

Cast

Music: Joel Beckerman, Tom Fox, Phil Hernandez
Editing: Ashley Smith
Production: Revelations Entertainment, ESPN Films, ESPN
Country: United States of America
Original Language: en

Keywords

sports, south africa, apartheid, rugby, sports documentary

Trailer

The 16th Man Trailer
More Films by Director: Clifford Bestall
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The 16th Man about?
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.
Who directed The 16th Man?
The 16th Man was directed by Clifford Bestall.
Who stars in The 16th Man?
The 16th Man stars Morgan Freeman, François Pienaar, James Small, Balie Swart, Chester Williams, Desmond Tutu.
How long is The 16th Man?
The 16th Man has a runtime of 53m (53 minutes).
What genre is The 16th Man?
The 16th Man is a Documentary film.
Where was The 16th Man produced?
The 16th Man was produced in United States of America.