Invictus (2009) ****

Rating: PG-13


Dedicated to Ma’am Shoa

Sometimes a good dose of healthy vitamins can boost an ailing body when all other medications fail. That’s what I thought of Invictus… it re-invoked a spirit of patriotism which made me want to do something for my country and set aside all our differences and perhaps start over again.

The movie is a cross between a sports flick and a political biopic. It begins with a haphazardly put together montage of events that eventually led to Mandela (Morgan Freeman) becoming the president of post-apartheid South Africa. This is where the movie begins, Mandela has won the election but he is yet to win the hearts and the trust of his nation. The black-white divide could hazard the nation into succumbing to communal riots and eventually a civil war. But Mandela sets into motion a civil reform, which begins in his own office, overcoming the black distrust of the white and employing both as his body guards to symbolize the harmony he foresees within his nation. Running parallel is the story of Springboks the South African rugby team, Pienaar (Matt Damon) is the captain who is being forced to resign on account of his team’s pitiful performance. Mandela steps in calling to office Pienaar and motivating him and his team to win the 1995 Rugby world cup which incidentally is being held in South Africa. This is where the conflict arises, the black South Africans always cheered for the team playing against the Springboks, as it stood for everything Apartheid, from its color to its emblem besides they preferred football over rugby. And when the Springboks initially fail to win and the now black majority house votes for a change in the name and anthem of the team Mandela steps in despite being advised against it, to coax his party members to withdraw the amendment. The story of how Mandela coaxes his nation to greatness is something that kept me mesmerized making me believe anything is achievable when you set your mind to it.

Nelson Mandela himself said that only Freeman could portray him on screen. And Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela does an excellent job, bringing to screen emotions that only an actor of his caliber could of managed, supported by Matt Damon as Pienaar, the captain of the South African Rugby, which actually ends up being the reason the movie was what it was overcoming some really sloppy decisions on part of Clint Eastwood as the director and his editors. The movie is long and drags a little towards the end with the rugby match extending to a good half hour. But when you are telling the story of Mandela and you have Morgan Freeman playing him, there isn’t much chance of going wrong.

P.S.:

Mandela has come forth as one of the most inspirational leaders in recent history, bringing together a nation vastly divided. His journey to office is a story which seems unreal, from being a political activist who spent thirty years in prison at Roben Island to a leader who reformed South Africa. What I am about to say has nothing to do with the movie…it’s just what the movie did for me… it reminded me of what the greatness of a single man can do for a nation and it hit home. We need greatness individually and as a collective whole, so watch the movie…learn and act upon it, hoping to bring forth some radical changes for the betterment of our nation.

watch trailer HERE