On the surface, Invictus may have seemed like another sports film aimed to motivate and inspire, but deep down it is really a film about leadership and humility. The film is about Nelson Mandela’s effort to unify the country through the sport of rugby. Interestingly enough, he sought to do this by placing a bet on the Springboks, which was performing poorly and losing support from its main fan base, the Afrikaners. Instead of mindlessly listening to his core constituents (ANC supporters) to put a new rugby team in place of the Springboks, he had the audacity and vision to tell them that they were wrong. He recognized the potential of the team captain, Pienaar, who had the capacity to lead the team to victory in the world cup. Throughout the movie, I was moved many times by Mandela’s humility and his capacity to forgive. When I was reading his book, I felt the same thing that Pienaar had felt after visiting Mandela’s prison cell on Ruben Island: how can a man be so forgiving and loving to his worst enemies after he had lost 30 years of his life in prison. This question became clear to me after I read his biography. In the book, he talked about the time when he had to ask himself whether there was anything in this world he would be willing to lose everything for, including his family and freedom. The answer to this question is the freedom of his people and prosperity of South Africa and to achieve this, he knew that unity was paramount.
This movie is a perfect example of why Mandela was such a great leader. He consistently showed humility in dealing with everyone around him, from his staffs to ANC supporters to members of the Springboks. With such a tremendous reputation around the world, he did not let his ego grow beyond his soul, which is why he continues to inspire people around the world. In addition, he did not let his personal feelings influence him in making the decision that was best for the country, which is what separates great leaders from the common citizens. Like many of his ANC party members, he had every reason to eliminate the Springboks, which his previous oppressors adorned. Instead, he recognized the importance of a united South Africa, which meant the support of the blacks, whites, and colored alike. While most Afrikaners expected him to retaliate, he simply chose to forgive and embrace the team that once represented everything he fought against. Mandela understood the meaning behind a sport team is simply based on human perception and that it is never absolute. As a leader who led by example, he fully embraced the Springboks as his own and people eventually followed. Lastly, he recognized the key individual, Pienaar, who had the potential to help him achieve his goal and invested significant effort to help him grow into the leader he was meant to be.
I am thankful that I saw this movie because it offered a window into Mandela endeavors after he was elected as president. Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of Mandela brought him to life for me and I’m eager to learn more about him and the history of South Africa in the future.
By: Fei Wan
Another movie I would recommend watching is Peter Jackson's District 9. I saw the movie before our class started and I loved it. The film does a great job addressing the xenophobic violence in South Africa. District 9 is also enjoyable to watch--the technology is great.
You convinced me to go see this movie!
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