A new movie about South Africa has just been released, right on time before the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, Invictus follows the amazing story of the South African rugby team during the 1995 Rugby World Cup that was held in South Africa. The movie is directed by five time Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood, and is guaranteed to give the good promotion South Africa needs as the host of the football tournament. The all star cast of the film also includes Oscar winner Matt Damon as the captain of the South African team, Adjoa Andoh as Mandela’s Chief of Staff, son of Clint Eastwood Scott as Joeal and many more.
Invictus is based on the book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation, and it is mainly focused on Nelson Mandela’s life after his release from prison, and his struggle to make South Africa a democracy and end apartheid. While attending a rugby game of the Springboks, President Mandela decides that he should show the country’s unity and commitment to end racism by helping South Africa’s national rugby team to win the 1995 World Cup. He believes he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, and invites the team’s captain François Pienaar (Damon) to meet him and to encourage him to make this historic run all the way to the finals where they meet the All Blacks - the most successful rugby team in the world. After the regular game ends a tie, South Africa manages to win the World Cup in overtime despite all odds. The movie ends with a crowd of over sixty thousand fans of all races celebrating the victory, and finally coming together, while Mandela congratulates the team and amazing effort.
Both Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon were nominated for an Academy Award (in Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories) for their performance in the film. Invictus has also won many different awards including Best Director and Freedom of Expression Award from the National Board of Review, nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Screen Actors’ Guild awards, as well as two nominations for WAFCA Awards.
If you enjoy the occasional movie and want to watch some great performances while learning a few things about South Africa, make sure you check out Invictus at your local video store. It is guaranteed to entertain while opening your appetite about the biggest sporting event of the year: the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa!