Winnie Mandela (Jennifer Hudson) was widely admired as a symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. She suffered harsh reprisals for the beliefs of her husband, Nelson (Terrence Howard). In 1962 Nelson was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison – he served 27 years. During the later years of her husband's long imprisonment, Winnie emerged as a leading opponent of the white minority rule government. Unfortunately, Winnie’s reputation was damaged by what many considered her sometimes bloodthirsty rhetoric, along with accusations of misconduct. This story focuses –not so much on the sometimes negative press received by Winnie—but on the very powerful love story that kept Winnie and Nelson Mandela together for years.