Posted on 12/14/2009 9:13:15 AM PST by SeekAndFind
“Invictus” means “unconquered.” The poem of that name, by 19th century Scotsman William Ernest Hensley, is said to be Nelson Mandela’s favorite. As the title of Clint Eastwood’s new film, which opened last week in the U.S., the word has a dual significance. Mandela, played to perfection by Morgan Freeman, claims that it helped carry him through his 27 years of incarceration at the hands of the Apartheid. When Mandela writes out the verses and gives them to Springbok team captain Francois Pienaar --- another perfect portrayal, this by Matt Damon--- they become the symbol and inspiration for the South African national rugby team’s unlikely triumph in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.
Whatever its ultimate outcome, the ’95 contest made history from the first whistle. Because of Apartheid, South Africa had been banned from the championship event, which occurred every four years. With the end of Apartheid and the election of Mandela to the presidency, the Springboks were allowed back into the league. This was only the third Rugby World Cup, and only the first in which all the games were played in one nation… South Africa.
Despite having rooted for any team that played the ‘Boks while he was incarcerated on Robben Island, Mandela persuades the national sports organization to reverse its ruling and retain the name and colors of the team beloved by the nation’s Boors. He becomes the team’s biggest fan, learns the names of all the players, and inspires its captain to lead his teammates to unanticipated heights. True to the facts, Eastwood’s Mandela appears in Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium garbed in the ‘Bok’s green and gold and sporting Pienaar’s number six on his back.
Eastwood, who will be 80 next May, is at the height of his artistic talents. Here he spins a stirring tale of courage and compassion. Tackling the challenge of depicting the reconciliation through which Mandela was determined to lead his 43 million countrymen and women, the director weaves a subplot through his story: when the newly inaugurated Mandela is informed that his bodyguard needs reinforcing, he dragoons a foursome of Afrikaner security agents, who had guarded his predecessor, De Klerk.
Mandela gambles his political capital on a wager that the Springboks, all white save one, can help him realize his Rainbow Coalition. He gambles his life on the bet that his mixed-race security squad will cooperate and keep him safe. Both rolls of the dice were fraught with hazard.
But, then, here is a man whose favorite poem asserts, “In the fell clutch of circumstance, I have not winced or cried aloud; Under the bludgeonings of chance, My head is bloody but unbow’d.”
A measure of Eastwood’s artistry is that, despite our knowing (or easily learning) the outcome of the ’95 world cup, we are on the edges of our seats, as the ‘Boks take on Australia, West Samoa, France, and finally, the seemingly invincible New Zealand ‘All Blacks.’
In addition to the satisfying symbolism of the Springbok’s triumph, standing as it does for the nation-building to which Mandela devoted his presidency, the team’s tenacity is compelling, too, because the bruised and bloodied gladiators were all amateurs with day jobs. Two months after the World Cup was on the South African sideboard, the International Rugby Football Board turned the sport professional.
Of course, one World Cup win does not a nation make. The challenges faced by Mandela --- racism, poverty, violence --- remain with South Africa… and America… and Europe, down to this day. To borrow the favorite cliché of the ubiquitous sportscaster in the film, “I for one” never thought Apartheid would be eliminated in South Africa without a bloody race war. As Damon/Pienaar wonders aloud, how could a man who was caged for nearly 30 years emerge from his tiny cell and forgive his captors?
The answer, perhaps, is that it took a man who believes, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”
-- Jim Castagnera is the author of Al Qaeda Goes to College (Praeger 2009) and 17 other books.]
I read somewhere than when Nelson Mandela was arrested he had enough explosives to blow up half of Johannesburg on him.
I’ll give it a try, but the poor oppressed blacks/Latinos who succeed in the “white only” sports/social/whatever field is wearing thin. “The Express,” “the Great Debators,” “Stand and Deliver,” “Pride,” “Glory Road,” on and on. One time was an inspiration: 50 of these is boring.
I will give Eastwood a pass on this one, him and Morgan is usually a pretty good combo. ie Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby etc... Wife wants to see it anyway and am sure it will be pretty well done.
Do they show the scenes where Mandela’s minions burned dissenters to death with “necklacing” and use pliers to rip the lips off of those who dared criticize communism?
On the other hand, people that actually went to see it give it blah ratings.
When I was in South Africa to visit my sister in law ( who lives and works there ), I get a mouthful from a lot of whites who complain that every nook and cranny is named after Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Madela Avenue in this city, Nelson Mandela street in this spot, Nelson Mandela stadium in that spot, Nelson Mandela school there, Nelson Mandela center here...
Their lament : “Enough is enough !!”
Tell 'em to visit Byrdland . . . Er, I mean West Virginia!
Political correctness tolerates only one perspective whenever a story has racial overtones, and that perspective is absolute. Consequently, every Hollywood story involving race is suspect. The movie ‘Blindside’ is the only one in memory that dares to represent white, Republican southerners in a positive light, but it’s the exception that proves the rule.
Any film pushed this hard, you know it’s going to be awful/awfully preachy.
I don’t know if it is or not - but I’m not willing to spend precious post-tax income to find out.
Nonetheless, Hubby & I will not subsidize any film that financially benefits a holier-than-thou liberal blowhard like Matt Damon, or those like him.
Yeah, yeah...we saw Good Will Hunting.
Before the credits rolled, I was HUNTING for a couple of shots & a smoke.
GWH was one of the worst movies I ever sat (partially) through - and I’ve seen the Fletch sequels, so I know what I’m talking about :-)
Seems like the viewing public is starting to wake up - let’s hope it continues.
If I wish to be a humiliated I will hire a Dominatrix, not go to a movie.
I heard Clint’s worst film.
Clint has too many lib actors in his films any more. no thanks. Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon are libs.
I had heard that James Earl Jones was a Repub. Any one know if that is true?
Yes, James Earl Jones is a Republican, but then so is Clint Eastwood.
See here for a list of known Republican celebrities :
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1311976/posts
I am not particularly interested in the film because the sport doesn’t interest me (just as that soccer film with Michael Cain and Sly Stallone didn’t interest me).
However, I love Clint Eastwood’s treatment on subject matter. He is an individualist and uses subjects to reveal our uniquely individual human experiences despite our strengths or weaknesses in the face of great odds. You see it in every film he directs. Many of his subjects are not loveable, but they all possess human traits we all understand. For example, the subject in Unforgiven is complex and likeable. Yet the subject is also the angel of death. The subject in The Gauntlet is a washed up cynic but given to chivalry and redemption.
All the subjects seem to be human in a careless world.
Went to see it last Friday night. It is a very powerful movie. Highly recommend.
Clint hires a lot of lib actors for his movies which sucks. I liked JEJ in Dr. Stranglove as well as other films.
Thanks for the list.
If I remember right she was the real heavy behind the scenes.
I don’t know what Freeman is politically, and from what I have seen, he keeps his mouth shut about politics.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.