Invictus
Dir: Clint Eastwood
2009
***
Clint Eastwood's Invictus, based on the book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation by John Carlin, is the true story of South Africa's progress post-apartheid thanks to the unity that sport, in this instance Rugby, can bring to a nation. Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa in 1994, tension was high in the country and he needed something that would unite the whole country. The national Rugby team, known as the Springboks, was historically supported by the whites and was a symbol of supremacy. Black South Africans would generally support the apposing team. Mandela pleaded with his people to support the team and he set up a nationwide tour of the team to win over the Black population. The Springboks weren't doing very well a year before the 1995 World Cup but thanks to Mandela's motivation, they were inspired enough and worked hard to eventually win the tournament. This was a huge step forward in the uniting of the people of South Africa. It may have been short lived, we're a fickle race, but Eastwood captures the magic the existed in '95 perfectly. Apparently, Nelson Mandela himself said that he would only allow Morgan Freeman to portray him in the film and so it was done. Both Freeman and Matt Damon deliver believable and moving performances. A large part of the film focuses on the people around Mandela, his bodyguards in particular. I believe this is the real strength of the film, as we see his Black ANC body guards and White security officers, who had served under De Klerk, slowly learn to respect each other and move on from the past. The Rugby world cup final that took place in South Africa that year, was a very symbolic moment in the countries political and social history and Eastwood delivers the story with dignity and refreshing lack of schmaltz.