On a cold, dreary and rainy day my favourite thing to do is go to a movie. If there are subtitles the chances are likely that I will not understand what is being said, but this does not keep me away from the theatres.
I recently saw a movie worth noting – Invictus. The film is directed by Clint Eastwood and stars two of my favourite American actors, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Freeman plays Nelson Mandela upon election as President of South Africa in 1994, following apartheid. Damon plays South African rugby Springboks team captain, Francois Pienaar.
Shamefully, I did not really know anything about apartheid. I knew it happened. I knew it was bad. That was about all I knew. And what does this American know about rugby? Very little.
Uneducated about apartheid and rugby, I went in to the theatre expecting to see a film about the South African rugby team. Once the screen started rolling it became apparent this is not a film about rugby.
Invictus is a true story of how Mandela unified his country, torn apart from years of segregation, through his courageous interaction with Pienaar despite Mandela's staff's strong apprehensions. Mandela used encouraging words to empower Pienaar with the confidence needed to lead the South African Springboks from near last place to become the champions of the Rugby World Cup, hosted in South Africa in 1995.
A few final words of encouragement before the championships were surprisingly not those of Mandela, only passed to Piennar from Mandela. The words were that of William Ernest Henley, in his poem "Invictus”.
While imprisoned by his predecessor, for 27 years on Robben Island, Mandela used this poem to maintain his morale and remain without hate in his heart for his captors. He felt it was befitting the Springbok captain's situation and would empower him to proceed with courage and a warm heart to lead his team to championship. Springboks won.
As I walked out of that theatre, I was glad to have taken the dreary, overcast day to see this film; which had very few subtitles. Proudly, today I can say this American knows about the atrocities that occurred during apartheid; I even know a little about rugby. This movie prompted me to educate myself on the topics, to learn more about the situation which required Mandela to take such actions. Moreover, I now know about the contributions Mandela made to this world; and how a few encouraging words can unify a torn country. Grab it in a theatre, buy it off the shelf, rent it or check it out of the SHAPE Library as soon as it is on DVD. However you choose, Invictus is a certain "must see" film for 2010.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my uncouquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
- Willian Ernest Henley (1849-1903), coutresy of D. Studer