The year is 1967 and the race is on to make medical history. Dr Christiaan Barnard (Rupert Graves), a brilliant and ambitious South African surgeon and three surgeons in America are attempting the impossible: the world's first human heart transplant. The Americans have trained and prepared together for this day for years, and Dr Barnaard is driven by a fierce determination to succeed. And succeed he does, giving Mr Washkowski an unbelievable extension of life, never before done, never before thought possible. This breakthrough in medical history, paved the way forward and made Dr Barnaard a legend.