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Standing proud with Invictus victory
Published Date
30 November 2009
Author / Submitted by
Genevieve Quintal
Youtube Video
South Africa has produced some pretty amazing movies of late, thanks to the many people who work within SA’s local film industry. However, this time, Hollywood is stepping in and taking a chance on this enigmatic country of ours, steeped in a melting pot of unique traditions and kaleidoscopic history.
Invictus, the latest movie about SA, which will hit cinemas worldwide on the 11 December, sets to demonstrate to the world how a country, once ravaged by apartheid, overcame the odds and gelled as one. This showcases SA through a different lens, much more than just a scenic country with the big five, game drives and the tainted tale of apartheid, but a country with a big heart to boot.
Invictus is a Warner Brothers film, directed by Clint Eastwood and based on Nelson Mandela and his role during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The screenplay, written by South African Anthony Peckham, was adapted from the book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation by John Carlin.
Within a year of establishing itself as a constitutional democracy, South Africa was afforded the glorious privilege of hosting the World Cup, despite the fact that the country was still steeped in racial and economic divisions. Being the great visionary he is, our former President, the great Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, joined forces with Francois Pienaar and the South African rugby team, to unify the nation.
Filming took place in Cape Town and some of Hollywood’s most respected actors took up the roles of some of the country’s most influential rugby icons. Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon takes up the role of Francois Pienaar, the captain of the 1995 Springbok team. Damon, having never played rugby, was subjected to some rather intense training by local rugby hero Chester Williams who also played in the 1995 World Cup.
Eastwood’s son, Scott Eastwood, plays the part of fly half Joel Stransky and Zak Feaunati, a former Bath rugby player, who is now the head of rugby at Bishop Vesey’s grammar school in Sutton Coldfield in UK, plays Jonah Lomu. Other characters to watch out for in the film include Kobus Wiese, played by Graham Lindemann; Rudolph Straeuli, played by Vaughn Thompson and Ruben Kruger, played by Grant Roberts, a personal trainer from Los Angeles who helped with training on Clint Eastwood’s Oscar winning movie, Million Dollar Baby.
The title of the film, Invictus, means invincible in Latin and was taken from a poem written by British poet William Ernest Henley. This was one of Mandela’s favourite poems which he apparently often recited whilst in prison on Robben Island. The poem gave him the strength to survive in the face of adversity. And the tag line for the film provides the essence of the story ‘His people needed a leader. He gave them a champion.’
When Mandela stepped onto the rugby field sporting a number six, green and gold rugby jersey, the number worn by captain, Francois Pienaar, it had a magical and lasting impact on the country. This symbolised the first real step towards unity outside the political arena, and what better gesture to make? The timing was spot on. And the majority of South Africans still recall where they were when Joel Stransky kicked the dropkick which clinched the Springbok’s win in the 1995 World Cup. Fifteen years on and this epic moment maintains the power to evoke the euphoria and goose bumps of that day. It was a tumultuous triumph, celebrated not only by rugby crazed fans, but by a nation, young and old, black and white. This was the true birth of the rainbow nation, and this is what Invictus portrays.
South Africans love sport. Rugby is one of our most beloved sports. During those 80 minutes of the game, everyone speaks the same language. Strangers become friends and comrades. If you’ve ever been to a pub in London when the Boks are playing, you’ll know what I mean.
Invictus could possibly not have been released at a better time. As South Africa prepares to host another world cup, this time, the 2010 Soccer World Cup, this is perhaps our rehearsal and a reminder to us that as South Africans ‘united we stand, divided, we fall’.
Will South Africans unite again? Winning is not the key ingredient to unity, South Africans should expand their concept of winning to include a gracious nation, extending warmth, generosity and goodwill to visitors and recapturing the synergy of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Are we up to the challenge? South Africa should take a leaf out of Nelson Mandela’s book and use Invictus as the nation’s aspiration for 2010.
Invictus, the latest movie about SA, which will hit cinemas worldwide on the 11 December, sets to demonstrate to the world how a country, once ravaged by apartheid, overcame the odds and gelled as one. This showcases SA through a different lens, much more than just a scenic country with the big five, game drives and the tainted tale of apartheid, but a country with a big heart to boot.
Invictus is a Warner Brothers film, directed by Clint Eastwood and based on Nelson Mandela and his role during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The screenplay, written by South African Anthony Peckham, was adapted from the book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation by John Carlin.
Within a year of establishing itself as a constitutional democracy, South Africa was afforded the glorious privilege of hosting the World Cup, despite the fact that the country was still steeped in racial and economic divisions. Being the great visionary he is, our former President, the great Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, joined forces with Francois Pienaar and the South African rugby team, to unify the nation.
Filming took place in Cape Town and some of Hollywood’s most respected actors took up the roles of some of the country’s most influential rugby icons. Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon takes up the role of Francois Pienaar, the captain of the 1995 Springbok team. Damon, having never played rugby, was subjected to some rather intense training by local rugby hero Chester Williams who also played in the 1995 World Cup.
Eastwood’s son, Scott Eastwood, plays the part of fly half Joel Stransky and Zak Feaunati, a former Bath rugby player, who is now the head of rugby at Bishop Vesey’s grammar school in Sutton Coldfield in UK, plays Jonah Lomu. Other characters to watch out for in the film include Kobus Wiese, played by Graham Lindemann; Rudolph Straeuli, played by Vaughn Thompson and Ruben Kruger, played by Grant Roberts, a personal trainer from Los Angeles who helped with training on Clint Eastwood’s Oscar winning movie, Million Dollar Baby.
The title of the film, Invictus, means invincible in Latin and was taken from a poem written by British poet William Ernest Henley. This was one of Mandela’s favourite poems which he apparently often recited whilst in prison on Robben Island. The poem gave him the strength to survive in the face of adversity. And the tag line for the film provides the essence of the story ‘His people needed a leader. He gave them a champion.’
When Mandela stepped onto the rugby field sporting a number six, green and gold rugby jersey, the number worn by captain, Francois Pienaar, it had a magical and lasting impact on the country. This symbolised the first real step towards unity outside the political arena, and what better gesture to make? The timing was spot on. And the majority of South Africans still recall where they were when Joel Stransky kicked the dropkick which clinched the Springbok’s win in the 1995 World Cup. Fifteen years on and this epic moment maintains the power to evoke the euphoria and goose bumps of that day. It was a tumultuous triumph, celebrated not only by rugby crazed fans, but by a nation, young and old, black and white. This was the true birth of the rainbow nation, and this is what Invictus portrays.
South Africans love sport. Rugby is one of our most beloved sports. During those 80 minutes of the game, everyone speaks the same language. Strangers become friends and comrades. If you’ve ever been to a pub in London when the Boks are playing, you’ll know what I mean.
Invictus could possibly not have been released at a better time. As South Africa prepares to host another world cup, this time, the 2010 Soccer World Cup, this is perhaps our rehearsal and a reminder to us that as South Africans ‘united we stand, divided, we fall’.
Will South Africans unite again? Winning is not the key ingredient to unity, South Africans should expand their concept of winning to include a gracious nation, extending warmth, generosity and goodwill to visitors and recapturing the synergy of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Are we up to the challenge? South Africa should take a leaf out of Nelson Mandela’s book and use Invictus as the nation’s aspiration for 2010.
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