Blood & Glory

During the Anglo-Boer War, British soldiers murder Willem Morkel's innocent wife and only child. Willem is captured and sent to the St. Helena concentration camp, where Colonel Swanell holds him prisoner, an imperialist with an insatiable hatred for the Afrikaner nation. The prisoners are subjected to unspeakable brutality on the island, constantly degraded and dehumanised by the Colonel and his men. The prisoners are broken down and their spirits weakened, but their hatred and lust for revenge grow stronger with each passing day. One day, during a rugby match between prisoners and the Royal Regiment team, a young prisoner attempts to escape disguised as a soldier. Discovered in the soldier's uniform, Colonel Swanell sentences the boy to death. Willem interjects and bravely puts forward an ultimatum: If the Boers can defeat the Colonel's experienced Royal Regiment in a game of rugby, Swanell must pardon the boy and spare his life. If however, the Royal Regiment defeats the Boers, Willem will face the firing squad. Swanell can't resist the enticing offer, but denies Willem's proposal and offers a final deal of his own. If the Boers win, the boy is spared, but Willem dies. If the Boers lose, both Willem and the boy die. Against outcry from the Boer prisoners, Willem bravely accepts the offer and his fate. With deep pride and honor, they run out onto a field to play the most important game of their lives. The grueling battle is fought and victory is won. Enraged by their victory, Swanell goes back on his word and decides to execute the boy instead of Willem. As the firing squad is formed, a new Colonel from London interjects and relieves Swanell of his position. Swanell explodes with anger and charges towards Willem with his revolver, shoving it against his forehead. As he goes for the trigger, Swanell is shot in the arm and Willem is saved. The Anglo Boer War ended on 31 May 1902 and within 5 months, all prisoners were finally released and sent home.