Invictus-directed by clint Eastwood

Invictus was originally a poem written by William Henley in 1875. Born in 1849, Henley contracted tuberculosis of the bone when he was 12 & later had a leg amputated below the knee. Despite this he led a busy life until he died in 1903 when he was 53.
Legend has it that when Nelson Mandela was in Robben Island prison he had the poem 'Invictus' written on a piece of paper.Released from prison in 1990, mandela became president of south Africa in 1994. Apart from trying to sort out the crime & unemployment problems, he also wanted to ease the country's racial tensions. Having watched a springboks rugby union game & knowing that south Africa are hosting the 1995 Rugby world cup, he sees it as a way of unifying & inspiring the country if the springboks can win over the black south Africans.This is something that is implied when Mandela spoke with the springboks' captain Francois pienaar.He also shares the poem 'Invictus' with him ( Though in reality it's said to be Roosevelt's 'man in the arena').
 The springboks exceed all expectations & edge the final 15-12 against the mighty New Zealand 'All Blacks' in front of a mixed black & white crowd of 62,000.

Clint Eastwood's film is based on John Carlin's book 'Playing the enemy:Nelson Mandela and the game that changed a nation'. Running at 133 minutes, it carries the tag line 'His people needed a leader, He gave them a champion'. It has been described as 'Genuinely inspiring' & 'soul stirring'. Starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela , the word is that he was born to play that role. Matt Damon 's performance as Francois Pienaar has already been called 'the best of his career'.
If you enjoy Clint Eastwood's films, admire Mandela's achievements & like a bit of Rugby too, then go & see it!