Invictus

Have you ever seen the film "Invictus"? This drama is starred by Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon. It`s directed by Clin Eastwood. It`s based on a novel written by John Carlin. The music is perfomed by Michael Stevents, Kyle Eastwood. It was released in Dec. 2009. It was nominated for best actor, Morgan Freeman adn best supporting actor, MAatt Damon.

This is the second of two post-apartheid film which were nominated for Oscar this year. Invictus tells the story of how President Nelson Mandela, certain that he could united his country though the universal languague of sport, inspired the South African rugby team to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Morgan Freeman stars as Mandela and Matt Damon plays Francois Pienaar, captain of the South African team. The growing bond between the two men-unthinkable during the long years of apartheid - is atathe heart of Clin Eastwood`s film.

The opening scene brilliant sets the stage. Mandela was released from prison on February 11, 1990 after 27 years, then he travels in a motorcade that passes between two fenced sports fields. On one, white youths in spiffy uniforms play rugby. On the other pitch, black kids a soccer ball. The black kids rush to the fence while the white kids coach tells his cargers to mark the day when their country went to the dogs.

At once, Eastwood and South African screenwriter Anthony Peckham deliver a metaphor for a nation divided along racial lines and a hint that sports will be one of Mandela´s strategies for bringing South African together.

The film, based upon the book "Playing the Enemy" by John Carlin, has an understandably narrow focus of 1995 South African. Mandela is seen only in the context of a sudden rugby convert. He signs papers and greets international delegations between matches. Francois is glimpsed whit a family and wife- or girlfriend, even this is nuclear- but he exists solely to play his sport.

The flim´s title was taken from a short poem by the British poet William Ernest Henley, firts published in 1875, that Mandela often recited to himself while imprisoned on Robben Island. The key final lines are: "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my solu." Francois finds meaning here too as he seeks to lead his team to victory.