Invictus Response Paper - Essay Example

I knew a great deal about the man and personally regard him as one of my several role models. Not only did the man spend 27 years in prison for being sentenced as a result of standing up for his people through his political activities and his believes but his resolve was so firm that he later became one of South Africa’s most beloved Presidents in the year 1994. One thing that is undeniable throughout the movie is the open admiration and respect in the hearts of the viewers for Nelson Mendela.

His tact, his firm determination for his anti-apartheid cause and his true desire to unify his country wins the hearts of the viewers and dominates every aspect of the film. For me this film is focused stringently on Nelson Mandela and for most of the part I believe it is a great depiction of the man. Invictus spins around a web of celebration for the political leader as a sage. His wisdom and insights surpass not just that of his associates but he is shown as someone who has the ability to be autocratic in the gentlest manner, guiding his country from the midst of a chaos resulting from racial segregation with a firm grasp.

This can be seen in the way Mandela not only realizes the reason for his nation’s disunity was apartheid but he decides to step forward and do something about it. Of the numerous qualities of Nelson Mandela, his determination and resolve are key highlighting characteristics that research highlights. Similarly in the movie, despite having a limited knowledge of sport, the viewed the South African rugby team as a tool to unify the country by participating in the 1995 World Cup Championship and gathering all his people under one flag regardless of their differences.

It was a wise tactical move, one born not for the intent to entertain but for the underlying genius to move a nation into one. Invictus manages to shift focus from portraying the life of Nelson Mandela not during his years in prison and concluding with his release but depicts the immediately inspiring struggle of the genius and his breathtaking act of leadership in the course of his first year as President. It shows the ability of the man to unite a scarred, fractious country through sports and as a result become the real champion.

Invictus is accurate in showing how the defensive Afrikaner were won over by the Nelson Mandela’s endorsement of what they perceived was their sport, and gradually succumbed to the man’s charm. Furthermore the collaboration which views between Mandela and Pienaar the rugby team captain was a risky move which was a result of remarkable vision and courage. It could have easily be viewed as a symbol of betrayal by the black voters who had elected him and supporting the rugby team could have easily backfired as in the minds of his many supports it seemed to qualify as a symbol of apartheid.

Keeping this in mind any average political leader might have simply disbanded the team in order to retain the favor of his supporters. However as seen in Invictus the true genius of the man lied in his ability to fight the odds and recognize that the rugby team which was a symbol of division as well as hatred for the masses could be transformed into an effective instrument of national unity. His thoughts can be accurately seen from a quote in Invictus "The rainbow nation starts here. Reconciliation starts here.

Forgiveness starts here" (The guardian, 2010). Nelson Mendela’