With the Best Picture-nominated Invictus, director Clint Eastwood creates a powerful, compelling underdog story, transcending the clichés of both traditional biopics and sports films. When newly elected President Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) takes office, South Africa is deeply divided. Striving to overcome the racial barriers of apartheid, Mandela seizes on an opportunity for national unity with his country's ragtag rugby team, the Springboks, who qualify to compete for the 1995 World Cup. Ardently supported by the now-alienated white Afrikaners, the Springboks are so detested by the black population that the newly empowered National Sports Council votes to discard their uniform colors, which matched the despised old flag. Mandela not only convinces the council to reverse their decision, but he also forges a relationship with their Afrikaner captain, François Pienaar (Matt Damon), who begins to understand Mandela's mandate to foster reconciliation and build a “rainbow nation.” Freeman delivers a subtle, profoundly moving portrayal as Mandela, while Damon shines (and plays rugby with gusto). Based on John Carlin's book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation, this uplifting film (which takes its title from the William Ernest Henley poem that concludes with the line “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”), this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “Matt Damon Plays Rugby” training featurette (7 min.) and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are an in-depth picture-in-picture track, a “Mandela Meets Morgan” featurette with Nelson Mandela and costar counterpart Morgan Freeman (28 min.), “The Eastwood Factor” featurette on director Clint Eastwood (23 min.), and the BD-Live function, as well as bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine Blu-ray extras package for this Best Picture nominee.] (S. Granger)
This title is included in our list of films that teach about Africa