The film is set in British South Africa, in the province of Colony of Natal, in January 1879. The first act of the film revolves around the administrators and officials of British Cape Colony, notably the supremely arrogant Frederic Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford and the scheming Henry Bartle Frere, who both wish to crush the neighbouring Zulu Kingdom, which is perceived as a threat to Cape Colony's Mineral Revolution. Bartle Frere issues an impossible ultimatum to the Zulu king, Cetshwayo, demanding that he dissolve the Zulu Empire. Cetshwayo refuses, providing Cape Colony with a pretext to invade Zulu Kingdom. Despite objections from leading members of Cape Colony's high society and from Great Britain itself, Bartle Frere authorises Lord Chelmsford to lead a British invasion force into Zululand.