Invictus is a 2009 feature film based on Nelson Mandela’s life during the 1995 rugby World Cup.

Invictus (also known as The Human Factor), recaps the magical moments that occured during the 1995 rugby World Cup in South Africa, won by the Springboks. The film due for release in late 2009, is one of the biggest films ever to be made in South Africa.

Invictus is directed by Clint Eastwood, and stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar.

The title Invictus was taken from the poem by the British poet William Ernest Henley. It is latin for ‘Unconquered’. It is a celebration of the human spirit and is about never giving up.

As Henley stated in the poem,

“I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul”

It features a look at Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) after the fall of Apartheid. Once released from prison, Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa and faced the difficult job of uniting a country that was still divided. He used the 1995 rugby World Cup to unite the people of South Africa.

South Africa, coached by Kitch Christie, and led superbly by captain Francois Pienaar, were not given much hope of winning the tournament by any of the experts. However Kitch Christie and Nelson Mandela both knew that no other result was ever possible.

It was about more than just being a game/tournament. Nelson Mandela knew it was a vehicle for Nation building that was more powerful than anything any person in South Africa could control. Once he set the belief in motion, passion carried the Springboks to victory.

New Zealand were impressive in every game, and had tournament sensation Jonah Lomu (played by ex Bath Rugby player Zak Feaunati) who was just about unstoppable. No one could see how they Springboks could stop him, or the All Blacks from marching to victory.

However this script was surely written by Nelson Mandela. The Springboks semi-final win over France in Durban, was filled with high drama after the rains, delays, and final play which came up centimetres short by the French.

The final took place at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa’s field of dreams. I still remember the day vividly. I watched the game alone, in the early hours of the morning. Firstly there was the unbelievable inspiration of Madiba, Nelson Mandela, wearing the symbol of white supremacy, the Springbok jumper, with the number 6 of the Springbok captain Francois Pienaar emblazzoned on his back.

To hear the crowd (predominantly white) chanting, “Nelson!, Nelson!, Nelson!” It made the Springboks grow ever more determined, whilst it had a negative effect on the New Zealanders.

Once the game began, it was 80 minutes of knife-edge tension. There were no tries scored (although Ruben Kruger scored a legitimate try from a maul that was not awarded). And the scores were locked at 9-9.

The game was forced to go into extra time, and South Africa went behind early. After equalling the scores with a penalty, Joel Stransky’s famous drop goal sealed the game for the Springboks!

It was the game that changed a nation! Nothing else mattered. Not black, not white, just dynamite. One Team, One Country. United.

Ask any South African where they were that day, and they still remember it like it was yesterday. Watch it on video, and it brings a tear to the eye.