Invictus
Cast: Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman and Marguerite Wheatley
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: John Carlin (book) and Anthony Peckham (screenplay)
Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman), after decades in Robben Island prison, is released 1990 and begins immediately to bring an end to the apartheid and works toward a full Democratic where the black majority population can vote. Mandela wins the race for presidency and takes place as the President of South Africa in 1994.
His immediate challenge is “balancing black aspirations with ashen fears.” The country’s still-present racial tensions are made known, in the sphere of part, through Mandela’s security team, which composes both new black and old white officials, with the groups at once hostile to each other despite sharing the same task and goal.
While Mandela attempts to tackle the country’s main problems (including crime and unemployment) he attends a game of the Springboks, the country’s rugby union team. Blacks in the stadium cheer against their home squad, as the Springboks (their history, players and even their colors) represent prejudice and apartheid in their mind.
Knowing that South Africa is ready to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup in one year’s time, Mandela persuades the South African rugby board to keep the Springbok team, name and colors the same. He therefore meets with Springboks captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon). Though Mandela not at all verbalizes his real importance during their appointment, Francois understands the message under the surface: If the Springboks can increase the support of black South Africans and succeed in the approaching World Cup, the country will stay unified and inspired.
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Invictus Academy Award Nominations
Trivia
“Invictus” is a Latin word and means “invincible”. William Ernest Henley wrote a short poem named Invictus in 1975. Henley was at hospital when he wrote it, and Mandela is heard saying lines from the poem.
In terms of status and stars, the film Invictus is the biggest film ever to be made in South Africa according to Laurence Mitchell, the head of the Cape Film Commission.
When the filmmakers thought of an actor to play Francois Pienaar’s they wanted to have a known British actor in that role in the beginning. They changed their mind and decided to cast a lesser-known South African actor instead.
Jonah Lomu who once was a player of the Bath Rugby team and is ahead of Rugby at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar school in Sutton Coldfield is portrayed by Zak Feaunati.
Chester Williams who himself was a player in the South African rugby team of 1995 prepared Matt Damon for his role as Francois Pienaar by coaching him at the Gardens Rugby Club.
Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary his producing partner had been developing a movie about Nelson Mandela for years. They were trying to adapt Mandela’s autobiography in the beginning “Long Walk to Freedom” but since the story spanned many years it would be impossible to completely translates into a feature film.
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