Zachary FenellInvictus (2009)
December 20th 2009 00:14
“Invictus”, a film directed by Clint Eastwood, is based on the true story of Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman). Nelson Mandela, a South African, spent time in and out of jail in the 1950s for protesting against racial discrimination happening in South Africa. In 1962 Nelson Mandela was sent to prison for 28 years for illegally leaving the country. In 1993 Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize and a year later made history by becoming the first black president of South Africa.
“Invictus” is about Nelson Mandela’s connection to the country’s most popular sport, rugby. When Nelson Mandela was elected president blacks wanted South Africa’s rugby team- the Springboks, to be abolished because the Springboks symbolized the country’s past racism. Whites feared that Mandela would abolish the Springboks, leading to an increase in racist feelings. Mandela saw this racial powder keg as an opportunity to unite his countrymen. Reaching out to the Springboks’ team captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), Mandela used the pop culture phenomenon of rugby to fight the issue of racism.
Despite taking place in South Africa, “Invictus” is really telling about our society. “Invictus” highlights how significant pop culture, especially professional sports, is to our society. If people took Nelson Mandela’s philosophy of forgiving those who have done harm to us to heart than our entire society would be much better off. Overall, “Invictus” is a film everyone should be able to take a valuable lesson from.
“Invictus” is about Nelson Mandela’s connection to the country’s most popular sport, rugby. When Nelson Mandela was elected president blacks wanted South Africa’s rugby team- the Springboks, to be abolished because the Springboks symbolized the country’s past racism. Whites feared that Mandela would abolish the Springboks, leading to an increase in racist feelings. Mandela saw this racial powder keg as an opportunity to unite his countrymen. Reaching out to the Springboks’ team captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), Mandela used the pop culture phenomenon of rugby to fight the issue of racism.
Despite taking place in South Africa, “Invictus” is really telling about our society. “Invictus” highlights how significant pop culture, especially professional sports, is to our society. If people took Nelson Mandela’s philosophy of forgiving those who have done harm to us to heart than our entire society would be much better off. Overall, “Invictus” is a film everyone should be able to take a valuable lesson from.
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