Clint Eastwood directs South African rugby epic
Clint Eastwood directs South African rugby epic
Clint Eastwood’s new film Invictus, the true story of how Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team came together to unite the divided country, is now released.
Cinematic legend Morgan Freeman stars as Mandela and Matt Damon (The Bourne Identity and Good Will Hunting) plays the captain of the South African side. The story is set early in Mandela’s presidency in a South Africa divided by apartheid and racial hatred. It was filmed on location in Capetown and Johannesburg.
The screenplay is based on John Carlin's “Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation”. The title, “Invictus” means “unconquered” and comes from a poem by WE Henley that helped keep Mandela going during the 27 years he spent in prison.
Critics have praised the film which has been long awaited by sports fans. Rolling Stone magazine says : “Freeman seems born to play Mandela, and he never delivers a false note”.
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