Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon
Released: 05/02/2010
Rated: 12A
‘Invictus’ is Latin for ‘invincible’ and this is just how Nelson Mandela is portrayed in this biopic of the events of his life after his freedom. Newly elected in South Africa, Mandela (Freeman) is devastated at the racism in the country and so embarks on a tireless mission with South Africa rugby captain Francois Pienaar (Damon) to raise the country’s spirit and unite everyone through the universal language of sport. This film follows Mandela, Pienaar and the whole of South Africa on their journey to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship.
Mandela himself said no one else could play him other than Morgan Freeman, and for good reason. Freeman not only looks uncannily like the legend, but also delivers a believable and beautiful performance that is both inspiring and heart-warming.
The build up of tension and racial issues is admirably done but the film would perhaps have generated more emotional impact had we experienced more of Mandela’s imprisonment rather than just the one scene (in which we see Damon only just managing to spread his arms in Mandela’s actual cell). The mix of politics, sport and light humour is perfectly done, differing it from other sport-type films, and although Damon’s South African accent is often laughable, the heart-felt, strong performances render this film one to watch, and one to remember.
Becky Elizabeth Wojturska
Tags: clint eastwood, Invictus, matt damon, morgan freeman, nelson mandela
