Movie report: Invictus
I recently became interested in rugby and, looking for videos to help me understand the game, I happened upon the movie Invictus. I found a lot more than I was looking for.
In 1994, Nelson Mandela, freed after nearly 30 years in prison as a political prisoner and recently elected President of South Africa, attends a match of the country’s rugby team, the Springboks (it’s a kind of gazelle). They are a pretty crappy team, and are losing to England. Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) notices that the whites in the audience applaud when the Springboks score, but the blacks applaud when England scores. To the blacks, the Springboks (and their team colors), are a symbol of apartheid. Mandela sees this rugby team as a way to help unify the country.
He invites the white team captain, Francois Pienaar (played by Matt Damon), to tea. Mystified, Pienaar accepts, and there is a strange meeting between the two. Although Mandela never said it, Pienaar comes away with the idea that Mandela wants the Springboks to win the rugby World Cup at the championship match that South Africa will host in 1995.
The Springboks begin to train in earnest. They are also sent all over the country to demonstrate rugby to people in the poor townships. The Springboks resent this at first, but support for the team begins to grow. The team visits Mandela’s cell in the now-closed prison, a transforming experience.
The title of the movie comes from the poem Invictus (meaning unconquered or undefeated) by the English poet William Ernest Henley. Mandela used this poem to encourage himself during his long captivity, and shares it with Pienaar. We come to see both Mandela and Pienaar as amazing men, both trying to accomplish the nearly impossible.
I won’t reveal the ordeal that the Springboks go through, or the ending. See the movie. It will probably bring tears to your eyes, as it did to mine.
Highly recommended
I recently became interested in rugby and, looking for videos to help me understand the game, I happened upon the movie Invictus. I found a lot more than I was looking for.
In 1994, Nelson Mandela, freed after nearly 30 years in prison as a political prisoner and recently elected President of South Africa, attends a match of the country’s rugby team, the Springboks (it’s a kind of gazelle). They are a pretty crappy team, and are losing to England. Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) notices that the whites in the audience applaud when the Springboks score, but the blacks applaud when England scores. To the blacks, the Springboks (and their team colors), are a symbol of apartheid. Mandela sees this rugby team as a way to help unify the country.
He invites the white team captain, Francois Pienaar (played by Matt Damon), to tea. Mystified, Pienaar accepts, and there is a strange meeting between the two. Although Mandela never said it, Pienaar comes away with the idea that Mandela wants the Springboks to win the rugby World Cup at the championship match that South Africa will host in 1995.
The Springboks begin to train in earnest. They are also sent all over the country to demonstrate rugby to people in the poor townships. The Springboks resent this at first, but support for the team begins to grow. The team visits Mandela’s cell in the now-closed prison, a transforming experience.
The title of the movie comes from the poem Invictus (meaning unconquered or undefeated) by the English poet William Ernest Henley. Mandela used this poem to encourage himself during his long captivity, and shares it with Pienaar. We come to see both Mandela and Pienaar as amazing men, both trying to accomplish the nearly impossible.
I won’t reveal the ordeal that the Springboks go through, or the ending. See the movie. It will probably bring tears to your eyes, as it did to mine.
Highly recommended
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