Most people would expect a biographical drama about Nelson Mandela - legendary South African campaigner against apartheid and former president - to tell the inspiring story of the 27 years he spent in prison and how he fought his way to the presidency.
But in Invictus, actor-turned-director Clint Eastwood chooses to tell the story of Mandela just after he's been voted president and how he uses the universal language of sport to bring together a divided country during the rugby World Cup in South Africa in 1995. The film is as much an uplifting and exciting sports movie as it is a biography.
Based on John Carlin's historical book Playing the Enemy, Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman plays a highly believable Nelson Mandela. Amid crime, unemployment and other social problems, he is shocked to see that racial tensions are so extreme that black citizens cheer against their white-dominated national rugby team, the Springboks.
As host of the upcoming rugby World Cup, Mandela seizes a golden opportunity to boost national pride. He meets Springboks captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) and asks his team to reach out to different communities, earn their support and win the cup. Despite a less-than-impressive record, the determined Boks battle their way to the World Cup final, which pits them against New Zealand's All Blacks. For glory and unity, the underdogs now have to win not only the game, but the hearts of all South Africans, regardless of skin colour.
Invictus tells a soul-stirring, engaging tale of forgiveness and reconciliation through the power of sport. It is Eastwood's lightest and most straightforward movie so far - especially compared to Mystic River and Gran Torino - but no less dramatic and inspiring.
Tremendous performances from the leading cast and directing from Eastwood have already earned the movie three Golden Globe nods. But it is the details and colourful moments that make this movie truly special. Mandela's return to his prison cell on Robben Island, the fearless Haka chant by the All Blacks, scenes of post-apartheid South Africa and the exciting Cup final all add up to a cinematic success. There are bound to be a few slow moments in a historical movie, and Invictus suffers from a slow beginning, as it fills out the background story, before picking up speed.
