Invictus
Genre(s): Drama
Written by: Anthony Peckham
John Carlin (book)
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Release Date:
Theatrical: December 11, 2009
DVD: May 18, 2010
Running Time: 134 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
I would like to start my movie review blog with one of the best movies I had seen... Invictus.
Invictus tells us about the story of how Nelson Mandela after he becomes the President of South Africa, believes in the power of sports to unite his people. How Mandela invests his time and energy to inspire the South African Rugby's captain and his team to eventually win the Rugby World Cup in 1995 and along the way also built a positive uniting spirit in then divided people of South Africa. I believe that this spirit of unity he created during his period of presidency has had long lasting effects till date.
This movie brings to light many facts before unknown to me and I believe also to a world audience. It throws light to facts like Mandela's love for sports, His belief in the positive and uniting spirit of a sport (in this case Rugby) can bring to a divided people, Mandela’s beloved poem “Invictus” that helped him survive mentally and spiritually 27 years of unjust imprisonment. There is also a scene in which the Rugby team is taken to a tour to the Robben Island. Mandela spend many of the 27 years in prison on the Robben Island. The movie shows the world audience the small prison room where great leader was held captive.
This wonderful and inspiring movie is directed by none other than the living legend Clint Eastwood. Morgan Freeman does the role as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as rugby team captain François Pienaar, the captain of the Springboks, the South African rugby union team.
The story is based on the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation.
In this movie Mandela mentions a poem which was his strength and inspiration to survive the long 27 years in prison. The name of the poem is Invictus after which the movie is named.
Invictus was wriiten by William Ernest Henley (23 August 1849 – 11 July 1903) an English poet and critic. He is best remembered for this very poem which he wrote in 1875. The strength, inspiration and power of this poem is fulfilled in the life of Nelson Mandela and many others who found solace in its words.
The poem is as follows…
| Invictus |
| Out of the night that covers me,
|
This movie is an enduring tribute to a great leader, Nelson Mandela and a great poet William Ernest Henley… two great human beings.
