Invictus (2009)

Invictus is a 2009 biographical sports drama film directed by Clint Eastwood starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. The story is based on the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, hosted in that country following the dismantling of apartheid. Freeman and Damon play, respectively, South African President Nelson Mandela and François Pienaar, the captain of the South African rugby union team the Springboks. Invictus was released in the United States on December 11, 2009. The title Invictus may be translated from the Latin as "undefeated" or "unconquered", and is the title of a poem by English poet William Ernest Henley (1849–1903). The film was met with positive critical reviews, with praise for both Freeman's and Damon's performances: Morgan Freeman's portrayal of Nelson Mandela was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor and Matt Damon was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
On 2 February, 1990, Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison after 27 years spent in jail. Four years later, Mandela is elected to be the first black President of South Africa. His presidency faces enormous challenges in the post-Apartheid era, including rampant poverty and crime. Mandela is particularly concerned about racial divisions between black and white South Africans, which could lead to violence. The ill will which both groups hold towards each other is seen even in his own security detail where relations between the established white officers, who had guarded Mandela's predecessors, and the black ANC additions to the security detail, are frosty and marked by mutual distrust.
While attending a game of the Springboks, the country's rugby union team, Mandela recognizes that the blacks in the stadium cheer against their home squad, as the Springboks represent prejudice and apartheid in their minds. He remarks that he did the same while imprisoned on Robben Island. Knowing that South Africa is set to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup in one year's time, Mandela convinces a meeting of the newly-black-dominated South African Sports Committee to support the Springboks. He then meets with the captain of the Springboks rugby team, François Pienaar (Matt Damon), and implies that a Springboks victory in the World Cup will unite and inspire the nation. Mandela also shares with Pienaar a poem, "Invictus", that had inspired him during his time in prison.
Pienaar and his teammates train. Many South Africans, both white and black, doubt that rugby will unite a nation torn apart by some 50 years of racial tensions. For many non-whites, especially the radicals, the Springboks symbolised white supremacy. However, both Mandela and Pienaar stand firmly behind their theory that the game can successfully unite the South African country.
Things begin to change as the players interact with the locals and start friendship with them. During the opening games, support for the Springboks begins to grow among the non-white population. By the second game, citizens of all races attend to support the Springboks and Mandela's efforts. Mandela's security team also grows closer as the various officers come to respect their comrades professionalism and dedication.
The Springboks surpass all expectations and qualify for the final match against New Zealand All Blacks—the most successful rugby team in the world then and now. Prior to the game, the Springbok team visits Robben Island, where Mandela spent 27 years in jail. There Piennar is inspired by Mandela's will and his idea of self-mastery in the poem Invictus. Pienaar mentions his amazement that Mandela "could spend thirty years in a tiny cell, and come out ready to forgive the people who put [him] there".
Supported by a large home crowd of both whites and blacks, Pienaar motivates his team. Mandela's security detail receives a scare when, just before the match, a jumbo jet buzzes the stadium, but it is not an assassination attempt but a demonstration of patriotism. The Springboks win the match on a last-minute long drop-kick from fly-half Joel Stransky (Scott Eastwood), with a score of 15–12. Mandela and Pienaar meet on the field together to celebrate the improbable and unexpected victory. Mandela's car is then seen driving away in the traffic-jammed streets leaving the stadium. As Mandela watches the South Africans celebrating together in the car, Morgan Freeman's voice is heard reciting the poem, "Invictus".

Cast

• Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela
• Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar
• Tony Kgoroge as Jason Tshabalala
• Julian Lewis Jones as Etienne Feyder^[4]
• Adjoa Andoh as Brenda Mazibuko
• Patrick Mofokeng as Linga Moonsamy
• Matt Stern as Hendrick Booyens
• Marguerite Wheatley as Nerine Winter
• Leleti Khumalo as Mary
• McNiel Hendriks as Chester Williams, the only black player in the Springbok team
• Scott Eastwood as Joel Stransky
• Zak Feaunati as Jonah Lomu
• Grant L. Roberts as Ruben Kruger
• Rolf E. Fitschen as Naka Drotske
• Vaughn Thompson as Rudolph Straeuli
• Charl Engelbrecht as Garry Pagel
• Graham Lindemann as Kobus Wiese
• Sean Cameron Michael as Springbok Equipment Manager