WITH CLINT Eastwood at the directorial helm I was expecting a lot from this film and thankfully it did not disappoint, giving us a glimpse into how a newly elected Nelson Mandela utilised and pushed for a victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup in order to help heal old wounds in post-apartheid South Africa.
Eastwood is undoubtedly one of my favourite directors and certainly Mandela, played by the brilliant Morgan Freeman, is one of the most interesting and inspirational figures in recent history. However going into the film I was confused about what rugby had to do with one of the most important and volatile periods in history. Well, the sport had a big role to play as it happens.
South Africa had just experienced a monumental change, the election of Mandela as president and the end of apartheid, but there was a lot of work to be done to bridge the icy gap between the white and black communities and to galvanise the entire nation into working towards a bright future.
The film begins with Mandela formulating his plans, but his attention is drawn to media commentary about the failures of the Springboks, under the captaincy of Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon ). The team’s chances of making it through to the final stages of the Rugby World Cup are slim but Mandela sees their potential, not just in winning the coveted trophy, but in bringing all his people, white and black, together through the universal language of sport.
While the Springboks had always enjoyed the support of white South Africans, getting the support of the black population proves a daunting task. They largely despised the team as it was an ugly reminder of apartheid. Mandela tries to encourage all of his fellow countrymen to leave behind old perceptions and discriminations and support the team, thereby supporting the nation’s new future.
Morgan’s portrayal of Mandela is brilliant, he seems to have really studied this man in great detail. Eastwood is also careful to strike the right balance between the Mandela/apartheid history and the rugby team’s story and the part that they played. Damon gave an average performance, but he certainly mastered that very difficult accent.
Whether you are a rugby or history fan, or just want to enjoy a good film, Invictus should certainly be considered.
Verdict: 4.5/5
