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‘Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people, in a way that little else does’ – Nelson Mandela
‘Invictus’ (meaning ‘unconquered’) tells the tale of the turning point in South Africa’s history – a new president who against all odds united the people of our country by harnessing the power of sport.
Director – Clint Eastwood, has created a masterpiece which, despite our former knowledge, is poignant and powerful. I was not the only one to sit at the edge of my seat with bated breath waiting for the outcome. And even though the principal members of the cast are American, they have taken on their roles with such aplomb and dedication, that they could very well have been the people they portray.
This is not a movie filled with glitz and glamour rather guts and determination – Madiba determined to show the people of South Africa that there was nothing to fear with the ushering in of a new regime and that forgiveness was paramount for the establishment of the rainbow nation, while, Francois Pienaar was given the unenviable task of turning a losing team into winners.
Putting the story in perspective, John Carlin, the author of the book ‘Playing the Enemy’, on which the film is based, explains, “What you have to understand is that the green shirt of the Springboks was a powerful reminder to black South Africans of apartheid. They hated that shirt because it symbolized, as much as anything else did, the tremendous indignities to which they were subjected. Mandela’s genius was to recognize that this symbol of division and hatred could be transformed into a powerful instrument of national unity.”
The ‘anointed one’
Morgan Freeman takes on the role of Madiba - a role requested by our iconic former president.
However, his involvement with the character he is portraying is one which he studied in depth, beginning in 1993 when he first met Nelson Mandela.
And it was after this meeting that he and Lori McCreary joined forces to become producing partners to create a film which would tell Madiba’s tale. The original intention was to work with Anand Singh in the movie version of Nelson Mandela’s autobiography ‘The Long Road Home’, however, due to unforeseen circumstances this was shelved and instead they worked with Clint Eastwood as director on a scripted version of John Carlin’s book ‘Playing the Enemy’ - a decision taken four years ago.
As executive producer - "A mere title," he said at a press conference in Durban last Wednesday, "I am an actor – ‘the anointed one’" Morgan immersed himself in the role. "If it didn’t feel real to me," he said, "then it wouldn’t feel real to you".
"I needed to have access to him (Madiba)," Morgan adds. "For years whenever he was in proximity I would pay him a visit." This enabled him to study Madiba’s movements and dialect to ‘get the right cadence and rhythm’. In addition "three or four days before the shooting I watched and listened to DVDs and videos – watched, rewound and watched again.
"I went into the role with a certain amount of assurance (arrogance as an actor), though I was scared of not being able to sound like him. Although I am certain that I was the best Madiba I could be, I’m still not sure whether I have done the role justice."
But, it wasn’t all hard work – "We had lots of fun and enjoyed ourselves so much, which is rare."
Of Clint Eastwood, as a director, Morgan adds: “He’s a marvel. We had all the latitude we needed and were accommodated by the camera.”
With respect to rugby: “I grew up in America and in America we play football – helmets, masks, pads, cuffs … and even so by the end of their careers many of the players are injured. Imagine playing in the kind of game where there is no protection (and in full sun) - it’s crazy – and unless you are knocked out cold or have broken bones so that you cannot move you play the game till the last whistle – it takes guts and determination.”
"I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul"
- an extract from 'Invictus', a short poem by British poet William Ernest Henley
(a poem which deeply impacted Madiba's life while imprisoned on Robbin Island)
Note: 'Invictus' means 'unconquered' |
