‘Invictus’ conveys important message for America (4/5)

Invictus

Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon and Tony Kgoroge
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Rating: PG-13.
Running time: 2 hours, 14 minutes

Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable 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.
— William Ernest Henley

From the eloquent directorial mind of Clint Eastwood comes one of the most inspirational films of the past year — “Invictus,” based on the true story of South African President Nelson Mandela’s venture to unite his apartheid-torn land by way of the national rugby team.

The premise itself seems contrary — the notably physical, aggressive game of rugby promoting peace and fellowship. But many sports fans will agree that there’s hardly a more unifying experience than cheering for the same team, especially on the national level (ask any soccer fan how they felt after the U.S. pulled out a narrow tie with England last World Cup, or when Landon Donovan scored the overtime goal that catapulted America into the second round).

“Invictus” begins with the induction of Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) as the first black president of South Africa. He arrives at his office to find all Caucasians packing their things with the assumption that Mandela will hire only black South Africans.

Cue Mandela’s first speech of inspiration, in which he assures the staff that “What’s past is past. We look to the future now.”

But Mandela realizes that he cannot bind a country with what many bitter whites would perceive as empty, lofty words — he must find a way to unite them on their own level. He expresses this in his first meeting with François Pienaar (Matt Damon), the captain of the South African rugby team, the Springboks:

“But how do we get them to be better than they think they can be? That is very difficult, I find. Inspiration, perhaps. How do we inspire ourselves to greatness when nothing less will do? How do we inspire everyone around us? I sometimes think it is by using the work of others.”

Although the Springboks are, frankly, not very good, Mandela sees an opportunity to join South Africa together in cheering for their national team in the 1995 Rugby World Cup hosted by South Africa.

Pienaar is faced with the difficult task of motivating his own team to greatness — personally and professionally. They are assigned to give black village children rugby lessons, a project first viewed with scorn. But when the players see the children and realize the effect they are having, their level of pride in themselves and their country begins to increase.

The rugby team is also given a tour of the prison that Mandela was held in for 27 years, an emotional experience for Pienaar. Mandela had given him a copy of the poem that had kept his heart, soul and mind afloat throughout the dark periods of hard labor and imprisonment — “Invictus,” a Latin word meaning “unconquered,” a poem written by Englishman William Ernest Henley in 1875.

A wonderful subplot in “Invictus” is Mandela adding four white South Africans to his team of black bodyguards. “The Rainbow Nation starts here,” he tells his angered head of security. “Reconciliation starts here.”

This inspirational and highly quotable film is something I believe everyone should watch, if only for the message of putting aside pettiness for the good of the country (something America could take a lesson in, I think).

Freeman does an absolutely incredible job as Nelson Mandela. And, really, who better to play the icon? Freeman looks born to play this role, and it’s said that Mandela himself said that Freeman is the only actor who would be able to properly portray him.

For his part, Damon does well, but his role is fairly limited to the humble captain who “leads by example.”

The rugby matches themselves are all right, but the filmography tends to cheese up a bit during the moments meant to be portrayed as suspenseful or moving — Eastwood did so well allowing the actors and the story to build its own dramatics that I wish they had left the creativity out of the games, a traditionally emotional experience in its own right. It almost seemed that though they understood and accepted the nuances and subtleties of speech, they couldn’t understand the fervor that is naturally built behind a sporting event.

But despite the few weaknesses, “Invictus” is overall a very strong movie that I think everyone, especially our politicians, should watch. I think the feel of the movie is summed up by an early discussion between Mandela and his assistant, Brenda Mazibuko:

Brenda: You’re risking your political capital, you’re risking your future as our leader.
Mandela: The day I am afraid to do that is the day I am no longer fit to lead.

4 of 5 stars