Celebrating the coming to power of the great Nelson Mandela in South Africa, and the upcoming rugby World Cup that symbolised the potential of this great nation.
Director Clint Eastwood had his hands full with this picture. Representing the iconic legend that is Mandela, whilst delivering a film about rugby! Luckily he got two of the most influential actors of our age on board. Matt Damon plays the inspirational, if slightly awkward, Captain of the South African rugby team, Francois Pienaar, whilst Morgan Freeman steps up to play the role of Nelson. Both provide excellent performances, although the accents are peculiar to say the least at first.
While the film utilizes a typical Hollywood structure, following the underdogs as they approach the big game, and the character development we see in them is reflected in their performance on the field, Eastwood also manages to insert a very touching political heart, that continuously beats throughout. The issues of race, apartheid, and hatred are seen within the divided population of South Africa, but not in a way that is too direct it becomes comical. The film is sentimental, but remains respectful of the history involved, without devaluing it.
Expect a lot of rugby, filmed in a way that represents the brutality effectively, and expect a great deal of philosophical one-liners from the great man himself.
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