Venue:         Ster-Kinekor Maerua Mall
Director:        Clint Eastwood
Cast:           Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Adjoa Andoh, Shakes Myeko
Genre:        Historic Drama
Rating:          4 stars

Invictus – Latin for unconquered – is the title of an inspiring poem by William Ernest Henley.  Having had his leg amputated, he wrote the poem from his hospital bed, stubbornly refusing to lose his spirit, bow to circumstance or be bludgeoned by chance, he insists that “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”  Clint Eastwood chose to call his film about Nelson Mandela Invictus because this poem provided strength and succor to Mandela during his years in prison.
However, the film, Invictus, is not a biography of Mandela’s life or his determined struggle to bring democracy and freedom to all in South Africa.  Instead it focuses on the challenges that followed this monumental achievement, when as President he was confronted by a splintered nation.   Headlines taunted him “He can win an election, but can he run a country?” In addition to the need to balance black aspirations with white fears, Mandela also had to bring South Africa back from the isolation of sanctions and encourage foreign investment.
He had to unite his country and convince the international community that the rainbow nation was a viable reality.  Hosting the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa offered him the opportunity to do this, but not without risk.  The South African Rugby team – the Springboks – were loathed by blacks, their name, emblem and colours symbolizing white oppression.  They were so vilified that, when the Springboks played, black South Africans actively supported the opposing team.
So when the National Sports Council voted unanimously to drop the Springbok name, replace the emblem and eradicate the green and gold, Mandela risked his political career by asking them to reconsider. 
He understood how much Afrikaners treasured rugby, and the Springboks, and that to strip them of this would be a divisive blow. 
He sought to unite the country through forgiveness and appealed to Springbok captain, Francois Pienaar, to inspire the team to greatness, because “nothing less would do.”
We all know the outcome of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and how all South Africans celebrated when Mandela - wearing a Springbok shirt - presented the trophy to Francois Pienaar.  United in that moment, “One Country, One Team.”
The strength of Invictus is in the story and the screenplay is exceptional.  Clint Eastwood accurately captures South Africa in the early 90’s, albeit with some contrived imagery such as the opening scene where black youths are playing football on one side of the street, while white youths play rugby on the other and Mandela’s cavalcade drives down the middle.   Morgan Freeman is almost indistinguishable from Madiba – portraying him as a dedicated, measured and reasonable man.  The film also highlights that the Father of the Nation was a solitary leader who served his country, to the detriment of his own family relationships.
Nelson Mandela is an historic leader, who led a remarkable life.  Invictus – with its focus on rugby - may seem a strange vehicle to celebrate this great man.  Nevertheless, the film successfully establishes Mandela as a true visionary with the ability to inspire others to greatness.