It's not about winning the game, it is about how you play it that really counts

Rating: 10/10 (16 March 2011)

In "Invictus" Clint Eastwood takes us back to a divided South Africa of the post-Apartheid after Nelson Mandela's being elected President and making a new government, the first one elected by the people. And it is in this fragile nation with enormous tense between South-Africans and English South-Africans that a political game and a rugby game will be decisive for the country's union.
Morgan Freeman, perfect as Mandela, is the elected leader trying to unite a divided country by making a unconventional choice by supporting South Africa rugby team during the Rugby's World Cup, at one time known for its racist songs while playing during the Apartheid; and now they are a failed team led by captain François Pienaar (Matt Damon) and a team composed in its majority of white players, and where the only adored star of the team is a black player loved by many fans.
Mandela knows that only changing the laws and building things are not enough to make a different and better country, opposite to the one he only knew behind bars for almost thirty years. He needs to join forces and show to everyone he's the right guy on command and that things can be worked for better. His alliance with Pienaar is a brilliant strategy, he teaches to the captain of the team valuable things on the importance that rugby has on the country (but only if they win because that brings a little bit of closeness between people, everyone together for one cause, and Mandela is promoting a new country to the world showing that a black President is as much as good as a white one) and Pienaar tries to risen up the moral of a broken team, playing his game efficiently.
The positive, different and unique strategy used by Mandela worked perfectly, and not only his ability in working with the team and the results they got in the nation, but also he calmed the tension between the former members of the secret service (white), and his personal security (black) who didn't get along right from the start of the new government. In the end, it doesn't matter winning the game, whether the political game or the rugby game, it's all about play it and stick it to the end that really counts, that really makes the difference. Many other politicians used of weapons and false propaganda's to spread terrible messages or evil ways to built a better nation, but here we see a man, almost alone, that used his power and presence to bring together something that was faded to be shattered forever.
Two spectacular performances by Damon and Freeman made of "Invictus" a really great picture, that also has a magnificent screenplay joining together a real event story with a sport themed film (with a exciting final match in the last part). Eastwood's unusual choice of film to direct proved to be a excellent and beautiful choice, an nice inspiring film these days, very very rare to find. It is a outstanding work but it should have gather more audiences, it looks like that people turned their backs from this precious gem. This is a example of what movies should be, giving some great, positive and realistic examples without preaching or selling an idea. It speaks higher and shows much more than you can think of. 10/10