Invictus

This film addresses the power of creativity in leadership. Actor Morgan Freeman portrays anti-apartheid activist and former South African president Nelson Mandela in this Clint Eastwood-helmed political drama adapted from author John Carlin’s book ‘The Human Factor: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed the World’. Set just after the fall of apartheid and during Mandela’s first term in office, INVICTUS explores how the political prisoner-turned-president used the 1995 Rugby World Cup — which was hosted by South Africa — as a means of bringing blacks and whites together after decades of violence and mistrust. Mandela knew that the Springboks were as hated by the black population as they were beloved by the Afrikaaner whites. His creative insight was to see the possibility of reconciliation that could be achieved if the team were to pull off a victory. Matt Damon co-stars as rugby player Francois Pienaar.