Rugby has long been viewed in South Africa as a game for the white population, and the country’s success in the sport has been a true source of Afrikaner pride. When the 50 year old policies and entrenched injustices of apartheid were finally overthrown in 1994, Nelson Mandela’s new government began rebuilding a nation badly in need of racial unity. So the world was watching when South Africa played host to the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Though they only had one non-white player, the South African Springboks gained supporters of all colors as they made an improbable run into the final match where they beat the heavily favored New Zealand team. When Mandela himself marched to the center of the pitch cloaked in a Springbok jersey and shook hands with the captain of the South African team, two nations became one. Oscar winner Morgan Freeman and director Cliff Bestall tell the emotional story of that cornerstone moment and what it meant to South Africa’s healing process.
M**D
Deeply Inspirational and Moving - Sport Can Unite and Heal
I have been an admirer of Nelson Mandela for many years and I thought that I knew many of the broad outlines of his Presidency, but this story I did not fully appreciate. Not being a follower of Rugby, I did not know how important the 1995 World Cup was until I read the book that this film is based upon. It was a revelation! But, the film is even better because of the interviews with many of the key participants. The power of this event, the basis of a long and well considered approach to unite the country and heal deep wounds from the past, is a great testatment to what huiman beings can accomplish when motivated by the desire to unite under a new and inclusive model and the willingness to work to heal deep wounds from the past. Clearly, this was not a simple task in South Africa (or anywhere else on the planet) and much work remains to be done. Just as clearly, the combination of enlightened leadership willing to make a differnce, combined with willing participants and divine intervention make this possible and the results are miraculous. As good as the body of the film is, the individual accounts in the Special Segments part is even more interesting. In particular, the individual comments by Francois Pienaar and Linga Moonsamy are really worth watching: in fact, this is one film where he individual commentws are ALL worth watching and I would have liked more extended interviews with the rest of the team and the other particpants who were interviewed.For anyone who despairs that mankind is not capable of addressing its ills, this film is a MUST.Sport can heal the world.Best,Michael W. Geffrard
J**S
A Fantastic Documentary
This is a fantastic documentary about a wonderful story. If you enjoyed the movie "Invictus," you should see this documentary, as you get to know the coach and several of the players that were actually involved in this series of events. If you are a sports fan, you will enjoy watching a team give it's best to compete in it's first rugby world cup appearance in many years. If you are a Nelson Mandela fan, you will enjoy seeing the role he played in the 1995 World Cup Rugby preparations and the tournament itself. Invictus
D**H
A genuinely wonderful documentary
As mentioned in the other reviews, this is taken from "Playing the Enemy" and is the real story behind "Invictus." I have rarely seen a better demonstration of the idea that sports can transcend the teams involved to underscore the human condition - in this case, how the work of Nelson Madela and a lot of other very brave men and women, black and white, overthrew the system of apartheid without a racial war. The ability of Clifford Bestall to personalize these events is exceptional; I cannot recommend this DVD highly enough.
D**.
very informative
I thought this was a great DVD...I'd read the book by John Carlin entitled "Playing the enemy" (later retitled Invictus) and recognized many of the people interviewed in the show. It's a great and entertaining way to learn about a pivotal moment in South African history, and to understand what a truly remarkable man Nelson Mandela is.
J**S
Enjoyed very much
We had seen this movie on TV and wanted to share it with an aunt and uncle who were in South Africa during this period of time. They really enjoyed seeing places they were familiar with. The story line was excellent.
T**C
Excellent
Informative and entertaining. A look at apartheid and how Mandela used sport to unite a nation. Desmond Tutu added weight to story
R**N
I love this! And I rewatch it every time I
I love this! And I rewatch it every time I watch Invictus - one of my favorite films. (And I don't like sports; I love this for the story.) Nelson Mandela was a true human hero. A modern day Gandhi.
K**S
You need to read the book "Invictus" to really get ...
You need to read the book "Invictus" to really get the full picture of what was taking place in South Africa at the time.
Trustpilot
1 month ago
1 month ago
