While this film won't inspire moms to send their children out to play rugby, "Invictus" showcases the power of sport and Mandela's ability to employ the game for the good of his country.
Sports are a language that knows no race or color. Hoping the peoples' passion for rugby will pull his divided nation together, South Africa's new president, Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) enlists the help of team leader Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) while their country hosts the 1995 Rugby World Cup. (This movie is based on a true story).
Why is Invictus rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Invictus PG-13 for brief strong language.
Rugby has been called a gentleman's sport but there is nothing civil about this grueling game. Competitors, playing without protective gear, expect pain and are amply rewarded with it. Locked in the tight confines of a scrum, they grind and grapple with their opponents. Things happen in that huddle that no mom wants to hear about—believe me I know.
But for South Africa in the 1990s, rugby is more than just a game. It becomes a way for the newly elected Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) to unite a country ravaged by economic woes, escalating crime and the deep-set effects of Apartheid.
After serving 27 years in prison for his attempts to end legal racial segregation, Mandela's election as President of South Africa sparks new trouble in the state as Black aspirations and White fears clash. Yet during these perilous, early days in office, Mandela chooses to take an overt interest in the nation's rugby team, the Sprinkboks. He does so despite the advice of his chief of staff, Brenda Mazibuko (Adjoa Andoh) and other members of the cabinet.
Believing in the power of sport to unite the people, Mandela invites the team captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) to his office. Rather than discussing the intricacies of a ruck or a try, Mandela engages Pienaar in a conversation about leadership and discloses to the captain his hopes for a win at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Unfortunately, it takes more than a shared cup of tea and a handshake to ensure the squad's success. In fact, even some of the players themselves are diffident about their chances for victory. They are even less enthused about their role in bringing together a divided population, especially when they are sent out to sponsor rugby camps in the impoverished Black neighborhoods.
However Mandela has a vision for a rainbow nation, one that even extends to include his own security guards (Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng, Matt Stern, Julian Lewis Jones) who have to overcome past prejudices in order to work together. Just as the President expects the best efforts from his own inner circle, he also anticipates the same from the Sprinkboks, even when they face the New Zealand All Blacks, unstoppable opponents who begin every match with a menacing rendition of the Haka, a traditional Maori war dance.
Directed by Clint Eastwood and based on the book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation by John Carlin, this movie brings to the screen a pivotal point in history—giving a small glimpse into the difficulties of the South African people and the dreams of their first Black president. The script, adapted by South African screenwriter Anthony Peckham, contains scenes of intense sports action, short depictions of riots (including a corpse in the street) and brief strong language. While the film won't teach anyone the rules of rugby or likely inspire moms to send their children out to play it, Invictus does showcase the power of sport and Mandela's ability to employ the game for the good of his countrymen.
Why is Invictus rated PG-13? Invictus is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for brief strong language.
This film contains depictions of racially motivated conflicts and riots (with portrayals of injured characters and a corpse) along with derogatory comments about other racial groups. Intense scenes of rough sports play are shown infrequently and include some blood. Characters drink in a bar, at home and at social events on numerous occasions. One character turns down the sexual advances of his fiancée. Another man comments briefly on the advantages of polygamy. A strong sexual expletive is used along with infrequent profanities and scatological slang.
What tensions are evident in the inner ranks of Mandela's staff? Why is it important for Mandela to have a mixture of Black and White individuals working with him?
How does the mantra, "One Team One Country," serve to help unite the South Africans? What inspires the Black population to support the Springboks?
Invictus is the title of a poem written by Englishman William Ernest Henley. How do the words of this verse inspire Mandela during his time in prison? How does he use the poem to inspire the team? What does Mandela mean when he says that to succeed they must exceed their own expectations?
Invictus releases to DVD and Blu-ray on May 18, 2010.
Sports provide the background for other movies that deal with difficult racial issues. In Coach Carter, a high school basketball coach takes an unpopular stance when he locks the inner city players out of the gym until they bring up their grade point averages. Collegiate coach Dan Haskins ruffles more than feathers when he signs up some Black athletes to play for the Texas Western Miners in Glory Road. A debate team made up of African-American students prepares to compete against the prestigious Harvard University in The Great Debaters.