INVICTUS

Invictus is an inspiring movie, especially at this time of year. Originally I had no intention of seeing the film because the trailers did not look that interesting and because I had no real idea of just who Mandela is. Of course I knew the basic outlines of his story - that he opposed apartheid, that he spent nearly three decades in a South African prison for his political agitation against the system of segregation, and of course that after his release from prison, he was elected president of South Africa. What I was not aware of was the EXTENT to which he went out of his way not to take revenge against his former enemies, even in the face of the continued encouragement of his immediate staff to exact the revenge they wanted for their own past suffering under the apartheid regime. Mandela's basic statement to his followers was - If I do as you ask, if I institute measures designed to bring physical and psychological hurt to the whites of South Africa, then I will be the very person that they are afraid that I will be, and our nation will never achieve unity. Now is the time to bring all South Africans, black and white , together. Now is the time to teach by example. Now is the time for forgiveness. Throughout the film, Mandela repeats verses from the 19th cnetury poem, INVICTUS by William Ernest Henley which he read as a prisoner and which sustained him in his dark hours .... Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. The movie is played out against the backdrop of the South African Rugby team's fight to win the Rugby World Cup, showing the world that just as the players on a ball team must work and cooperate together to successfully win the game, so must the citizens of a nation cooperate and work together to successfully win the respect of the world. I left the theater with a feeling of affection for the man and a wish to incorporate his vision into my own life. Invicus the movie has much to teach us. I urge you to go and see it. Oregon, OH - - December 15, 2009

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Cast:    Morgan Freeman ...  Nelson Mandela  Matt Damon ...  Francois Pienaar  Tony Kgoroge ...  Jason Tshabalala  Patrick Mofokeng ...  Linga Moonsamy  Matt Stern ...  Hendrick Booyens  Julian Lewis Jones ...  Etienne Feyder  Adjoa Andoh ...  Brenda Mazibuko  Marguerite Wheatley ...  Nerine  Leleti Khumalo ...  Mary  Patrick Lyster ...  Mr. Pienaar  Penny Downie ...  Mrs. Pinnear  Sibongile Nojila ...  Eunice  Bonnie Henna ...  Zindzi  Shakes Myeko ...  Minister of Sport  Louis Minnaar ...  Springbok Coach  Danny Keogh ...  Rugby President  Dan Robbertse ...  Boer  Robin Smith ...  Johan De Villiers  David Dukas ...  Captain of 747  Grant Swanby ...  Co-Captain of 747  Josias Moleele ...  Face Painter  Langley Kirkwood ...  Presidential Guard  Robert Hobbs ...  Presidential Guard  Melusi Yeni ...  Presidential Guard  Vuyo Dabula ...  Presidential Guard  Daniel Hadebe ...  Presidential Guard  Jodi Botha ...  High School Boy  Henie Bosman ...  High School Coach  Refiloe Mpakanyane ...  Jessie  Jakkie Groenewald ...  Johannesburg Cop  Murray Todd ...  Johannesburg Cop  Japan Mthembu ...  Local Cop  Albert Maritz ...  Sprinbok Mranage  Sello Motloung ...  Mandela's Doctor  Meren Reddy ...  Minister of the Environment  Lida Botha ...  Mrs. Brits  Susan Danford ...  Mrs. Cole  Sylvia Mngxekeza ...  Mrs. Dlamini  James Lithgow ...  New Zealand PM  Malusi Skenjana ...  NSC Firebird  Bart Fouche ...  Prison Guard  Johnny Cicco ...  Staff Member  Wayne Harrison ...  Staff Member  Ashley Taylor ...  Team Crew  Gift Leotlela ...  Team Crew  Kgosi Mongake ...  Sipho  Given Stuurman ...  Township Kid  Vuyolwethu Stevens ...  Township Kid  Ayabulela Steven ...  Township Kid  Nambitha Mpumlwana ...  Trophy Wife  Andre Jacobs ...  T.V. Announcer  Scott Eastwood ...  South African Springbok  Grant Roberts ...  South African Springbok  Mark Bown-Davies ...  South African Springbok  Dale Stephen Dunn ...  South African Springbok  Graham Lindemann ...  Kobus Wiese  Andries Le Grange ...  South African Springbok  Clive Richard Samuel ...  South African Springbok  Richard Abrahamse ...  South African Springbok  Sean Pypers ...  South African Springbok  Riaan Wolmarans ...  South African Springbok  Ryan Scott ...  South African Springbok  Daniel Deon Wessels ...  South African Springbok  Vaughn Thompson ...  South African Springbok  Charl Engelbrecht ...  South African Springbok  Rolf E. Fitschen ...  South African Springbok (as Rolf Ernst Fitschen)  Andrew Nel ...  South African Springbok  Rudi Zandberg ...  South African Springbok  Abraham Vlok ...  South African Springbok  Zak Feaunati ...  Jonah Lomu  Sean Cameron Michael ...  Springbok Equipment Manager (uncredited)  Patrick Walton Jr. ...  Springbok Trainer (uncredited)

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