THE MOVIE “INVICTUS” AND SOCIO-CULTURAL

ISSUES OF POST-APARTHEID ERA IN SOUTH AFRICA.

HOW DOES THE MOVIE “INVICTUS” DEPICT SOCIO-CULTURAL

ISSUES OF BELONGING AND IDENTITY DURING SOUTH AFRICA’S

POST-APARTHEID ERA?

English B -Language Acquisition

Category 2b

October 2020

Word Count:4065
 TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..3

Rugby Sport and Apartheid…………………………………………………………………5

Sense Of Belonging Issue………………………………………………………………….8

Sense Of Identity Issue……………………………………………………………………..11

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………17

Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………..20
INTRODUCTION.

“ Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful

weapon.” The spoken words by Nelson Mandela as the first chief executive from the

black native's race. These words are taken from the Invictus movie directed by Clint

Eastwood. This movie conveys the story of Nelson Mandela’s effort to unite a divided

country in the post-apartheid era. Nelson Mandela used Rugby sport as the media to

grow a sense of unity between two major races, White people(Afrikaners) and Black

natives.Nelson Mandela tried to shatter apartheid in South Africa with unity by using

South Africa national sport, Rugby Sport. This historical event was depicted in the

Invictus film. Invictus movie is a biographical sports drama genre movie directed by Clint

Eastwood and was released in 2009. The story is based on John Carlin's book, Playing

the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation , which took place

during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. This movie starred Morgan Freeman as Nelson

Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar. This movie is set during the Nelson

Mandela regime as president in South Africa and Francois Pienaar as player and

captain of South Africa’s national Rugby team, Springbok.The word Invictus means

unconquerable or undefeated derived from latin (Charle LaMonica, A Poem Recited by

Nelson Mandela, 2020) .Invictus is a poem written by William Ernest Henley in

1875.This poem was always recited by Nelson Mandela during his imprisonment and

later became his inspiration on battling apartheid in a new South Africa.

The regime of Nelson Mandela is known as the post-apartheid era. Apartheid is globally

known as the politic-racism system that comes from South Africa. Apartheid affected

South Africa as a whole, started from politics, economic, social, and culture. Apartheid is

derived from the word Africans word meaning “apartness” or “the state of being apart”.

Apartheid was first introduced and implemented in 1948 when the Afrikaner National

Party won the national election. The main expression of this system is racial separatism

which caused the oppression across the country by whites as minority toward non-white

people especially black natives as majority. After 48 years of suffering and oppression,

South Africa liberated when the Apartheid system was officially not enforced anymore.

The resistance of black people ended when Nelson Mandela became the first black

president of South Africa which brought the nation to a new era, Post-Apartheid

era.Post apartheid era is a transition era from apartheid government to the new

government.Renewal of the constitution, parliament, government structure occur during

this regime.The government aimed to improve education, health, and economy for all

citizen.Invictus appears the post apartheid era as a reconciliation time between black

and white people.In the movie, the whites seem afraid of the blacks due to the

assumption that it was the time for the blacks gain the power over their birth land.

The Invictus movie shows two socio-cultural issues in South Africa because of racism in

the country. This essay will discuss three main points which are a sense of belonging

and identity, and Rugby sport in uniting black natives and Afrikaners. This topic is worth

to explore because of the appealing event, departed from hobby or tradition Rugby to

entertain people, Nelson Mandel and all characters involved has made a people eager

for unity. This leads to the question, How did the movie Invictus depict the socio-
cultural issue of belonging and identity during the South Africa post-apartheid

era?

Discussion

I.RUGBY SPORT AND POST-APARTHEID ERA

Springbok’s triumph in the 1995 Rugby World Cup has become a symbolic moment in

the 20th century where it transformed South Africa into new nation. Rugby Sport in

general has become a symbol of unity for all races in South Africa. In the movie, Rugby

is illustrated as a national sport.Rugby was introduced the first time to South Africa by

British colonists. Because racial segregation, Rugby was claimed as a game that can

only be played by white people, later on by Afrikaners. Rugby began to be played in

Cape Town around 1875 and as the colonialists ruled South Africa, Rugby Sport rooted

in country culture and became a national sport. Since mostly every aspect under

apartheid, this sport was also segregated. In the first scene of Invictus, it can be seen

that black and white children do sport where the white children played Rugby because

this sport became the pride of whites since only them having the privilege to play it.So,

Rugby was entrenched as white people’s sport while some black natives grew hatred

for this sport which they preferred football.This fact is strengthened with another scene

where a black bodyguard of Nelson Mandela, Jason, after escorting the President from
the Rugby field to shake hands with the teams, Jason said:” I hate Rugby”( Jason,

20.30-20.32).

Indirectly, he is the proof the blacks hated Rugby.In the first scene, it also shows the

pitiful part, where the black children played football in a dirty and slum place, and the

condition of the children is gross. On the other hand, the white children played in a

clean and privileged place with complete sports equipment. This shows how the

apartheid system affected the social condition of the people. How it segregated the

sport aspect between Afrikaners and black native.

In the Pre-Apartheid era, the separation on Rugby sport where blacks played differently

from whites started from the field, equipment, or even team. After apartheid ended,

some equity for Rugby sport began. The film appears the first non-white player, joined

the Springbok team. This player is Chester Williams. In the movie, he plays in the 1995

Rugby World Cup where he scores in the final against New Zealand. He became the

symbol of reconciliation after decades of the apartheid. Nelson Mandela took him as a

signal to divided South Africa’s people on apartheid defeat and unity.

After Springbok’s defeat against England, the player lost spirit, and white people had

lost their support and trust toward Springbok. However, Nelson Mandela saw unity in

Rugby Sport. During the match, he had a conversation with some characters, he said:

“There are enough times for improvement.”( Mandela, 22:27)

Knowing that South Africa would be the host of the Rugby World Cup next year, Nelson

Mandela thought this could be a good opportunity to foster the rugby spirit that will unite

this divided nation. Therefore, he kept supporting the team by inviting all people, blacks,

and whites to support Springbok. He knows that with the spirit of Rugby, it would bring

unity. In the film, scenes when he enters the field before the match to shake the player’s

hand and wishes them luck. The main scene representing the support of Nelson

Mandela for Springbok is when he calls Francois Pienaar, the captain of Springbok for

afternoon tea. Morgan Freeman portrayed Nelson Mandela as a motivational and

supportive leader for Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar. In the movie, Morgan Freeman

reflects the role of Nelson Mandela as a public figure, not just for blacks, but also for

whites. As he takes Rugby sport as a symbol of reconciliation, this made him an

important figure for the black natives and Francois Pieenar as the main figure from the

whites for unity through sport.

II.SENSE OF BELONGING ASPECT.

Someone’s existence in society requires meaning or value like acknowledgment or

justice. Invictus did not only demonstrate the rugby sport, but also a socio-cultural issue,

a sense of belongings. According to Abraham Maslow, a sense of belongings is an

essential human emotional need and becomes a resource for human motivation.(Hall,

2014, Introduction). Belongings refer to a sense of self-identification where a person is

being part of something and feels equal one to another. A sense of belonging shapes

one’s self-concept, attitudes, performance in society. South Africa had a long-dark

history of racism and discrimination where it affe the sense of belongings of the

oppressed ethnics. The issue refers to how blacks felt South Africa belonged only to the

whites in terms of privileges meanwhile for the Afrikaners, as they entered a new era,

they felt South Africa entirely belonged to black natives. The apartheid system denies

the sense of belonging of black natives in the South Africa community. Because of

apartheid, the sense of belongings of black natives in South Africa culture was not

recognized/claimed. The post-apartheid era is where the black African tried to gain the

recognition of their sense of belongings and where the whites tried to see South Africa

as their remain community. Invictus depicts a sense of belonging as an issue for most

blacks and whites too. Nelson Mandela knew this would inhibit the progress of new

South Africa. The example sense of the belonging issue is depicted in the office scene

where the President worked. In his workplace, the staff or worker still had a sense of
separatism. Therefore, Nelson Mandela gave a motivational speech. In this scene,

Nelson Mandela states:

“But if you are packing up because you fear that your language, or the color of your

skin, or who you worked for before disqualifies you from working here, I am here to tell

you: Have no such fear.

What is verby is verby. The past is the past.

We look to the future now.
We need your help. We want your help. If you would like to stay, you would be doing
your country a great service.
All I ask is that you do your work to the best of your abilities, and with a good heart. I
promise to do the same.
If we can manage that, our country will be a shining light in the world.”( Nelson Mandela,
10:11-11.45)

Through this scene, Morgan Freeman reflects Nelson Mandela’s desire for the unity of

South Africa started from a sense of belonging from and to others started from a smaller

unit, workplace. He stated there was no more divided society. He even invited blacks

and whites to work together and threw away the history of apartheid. Starting from the

workplace, Nelson Mandela weakened apartheid culture among the folks. He wanted for

everyone to feel belonged in a place to bring them together.

As mentioned before, apartheid grew a custom where Rugby sport exclusively for white

people. This caused black people hating Rugby Sport. During the match scene,

Springbok versus England, the supporters of Springbok are the whites whilst the blacks
supported England. This is shown where around 5 blacks cheered when England

scored a point. Black natives did not acclaim Rugby as part of their culture. In Nelson

Mandela’s regime, such feelings had to be eliminated, to create a united South Africa.In

a scene where President Mandela asks his people from the National Sports Council that

it is time to perceive their country differently including how they should see the Rugby

Sport,

“ I am aware of your earlier vote. I am aware that it was unanimous. Nonetheless, I

believe we should restore the Springboks: restore their name, their emblem, and their

colours -- immediately.”( Nelson Mandela’s speech at the sports council scene (32:18-32:46)

The words reflect that Rugby can be a way for black natives to participate in new South

Africa by supporting Rugby sport. The words “ we should” refer to the suggestion and

invitation for black natives to be enthusiastic in the Rugby World Cup. Supporting rugby

means that black natives had the same aspirations as the Afrikaners toward the

Springbok team as their representative of rugby sport. This is to say, Rugby unites the

black and whites through sports aspiration which reflects the same sense of belonging

in the South Africa community/nation.

Morgan Freeman impressively demonstrated Nelson Mandela’s attempt on restoring a

sense of belongings in this new country. He realises he had to be the figure of the

improvement even when everyone seems against him. The movie shows how he paid a

visit when Springbok was training or his conversation with Francois Pienaar about full

support from South Africa's government. The scenes signifying Mandela representing

black natives started to support Springbok alongside the Afrikaners.

III.SENSE OF IDENITITY

Invictus portrayed another issue that black people experienced, a sense of identity. In

the previous part, a sense of belonging relates to how people feel belonged in a group.

The black natives did not feel South Africa as their place or some cultures as disrepute.

In this case, a sense of identity refers to how blacks and whites see themselves as one

society and culture of one nation, South Africa despite the dark history and difference.

In the movie, the post-apartheid era reveals how whites identified blacks when they had

to live together with them. After apartheid ended, the blacks seemed to be more

dominant which create fear for the whites. The Afrikaners still hate the new government.

In the earliest scene, where Mandela’s parade crossed for Mandela’s freedom from

prison, the black children cheered happily. This indicates that finally South Africa was

free from the apartheid system and they belong to South Africa whereas the white

children were only watching. A kid asked the white coach about the person, and he

replied:

“It is the terrorist, Mandela. They are letting him out. Remember this day boys. This is

the day our country fell to dogs.”( The white Rugby coach’s words during the opening scene

(02.00-02.07)
From this scene, the word “dogs'' refers to black people. The whites describe blacks as

a lower and despicable group in South Africa. They hated black people. The word

“terrorist” refers to Mandela as the black people rise symbol. This is to say that the

whites describe the black natives as a ruthless, killer, evil, inhuman, group of people as

it is the mind-concept of terrorism. This created fear for the whites to leave the country.

Nelson Mandela was aware that if the whites go out of the country, it could threaten the

nation’s continuity. To make the stay, Nelson Mandela needed to grow a sense of unity

between blacks and whites by showing to the whites that black people are better than

they thought. This is related to a scene where Morgan Freeman gave a speech at the

National Sports Council.

“Nonetheless, I believe we should restore the Springboks. Restore their name, their

emblem, and their colours, immediately. Let me tell you why.

On Robben Island, in Pollsmoor Prison, all of my jailers were Afrikaners. For 27 years, I

studied them. I learned their language, read their books, their poetry. I had to know my

enemy before I could prevail against him.

And we did prevail, did we not? All of us here … we prevailed.

In this dialogue, Morgan Freeman portrayed logical Mandela. He took decisions based

on his experience to make them believe. His experience showed he also suffered under

the apartheid system. He used the word “prevail” to reveal that they had won, no more

fight.

“Our enemy is no longer the Afrikaner. They are our fellow South Africans, our partners

in democracy. And they treasure Springbok rugby. If we take that away, we lose them.”
He invited all the blacks people to cast away their hatred and revenge feelings. It's time

to make peace.By supporting Springbok, it directs the people’s mindset, unity in

diversity.This line gives a sense of tolerance and respect of the culture whether it

belongs to black or white.

“We prove that we are what they feared we would be. We have to be better than that.

We have to surprise them with compassion, restraint, and generosity.”

The peace starts with the black natives and to build a great country, they need to do it

together.

“I know. All of the things they denied us. But this is no time to celebrate petty revenge.

This is the time to build our nation using every single brick available to us – even if that

brick comes wrapped in green and gold. You elected me your leader. Let me lead you

now. Who is with me on this? Who is with me?”( Nelson Mandela’s speech at the sport

council scene (31:59-35:08)

Nelson Mandela proposed a higher idealism, to stamp out the apartheid by cooperating

with the whites, in this case supporting Rugby.

Another scene indicates this issue in which the match Springbok versus England, many

whites of the white still used apartheid flag while some started using the new flag of

South Africa. This means the whites were still bounded to apartheid. As for Rugby sport,

the black people felt that Rugby was a symbol of apartheid through the short scene

where a charity was held in a church. When the white woman gave a black boy a sport
pant which is Springbok pants, the boy refused it. The white woman could only wonder

and a black woman said:

“If he wears it, the other kids will beat him up. Because for them, Springbok represents

the apartheid.”( The charity ceremony at the church ( 27:25-27:47)

A national sport of South Africa which is known globally was even considered taboo its

citizens.

In the movie, Mandela has to face the media that criticise his ways of supporting

Springbok like a newspaper with the headline: “Bok's hunger for victory “, the

disagreement of his people regarding Springbok plan, zero chance of Springboks to win

Rugby World Cup”. To make Rugby closer with the blacks, Springbok held the visiting

like the scene when the Springbok paid a visit in a black natives area to play with the

children. This makes Rugby closer with the blacks and builds a new image of Rugby

sport in their perspective. As for the team, Francois Pienaar even used the “Nkosi

Sikelele Africa” as their song. Francois wanted the team to have the sense of New

South Africa that they are one, no longer divided, and the song has become their

identity, South Africa anthems. Knowing the whites’ fear for a new government, Nelson

Mandela calmed them in the office scene. In this part, he gave a speech saying they

should have no such fear. This is to say the whites were still part of South Africa and

there was nothing to threaten them again. When the whites and blacks had no fear, it

would break the chain of apartheid.

I.THE VICTORY.

Throughout the movie, the characters make a good movement in changing separatism

into unity. Francois Pienaar started believing and striving for peace in his team and

became the reflection of Rugby as a whites and blacks sport. Nelson Mandela’s way of

uniting South Africa finally succeeded. The whites started to support Springbok again

which motivates the team to start winning over the world cup. The blacks slowly

supported Rugby indicated by the scene where the blackguards started playing Rugby

with the white guards. In this scene, the black and white guards became closer and

laughed together. In the last scenes, Springbok surpassed people’s expectations which

drew many of the blacks and whites and cheered the Springbok game on the final

match. Compared to the previous match, this scene described how the people of South

Africa started using the new flag and yelling Mandela’s name. This shows that people

had realized and united as one country. The movie also displayed inside and outside of

the stadium, almost all black and whites watched the historical moment of their country.

They even watched it together. All the people sang the national anthem of South Africa

together, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica.During the game, Matt Damon depicted Francois Pienaar

as a motivational leader where he kept pushing them to win the game. He said:

“Heads up. Look into my eyes. Do you hear that? Listen to your country.

Seven minutes.Defense, defense, defense.

This is it. This is our destiny. Come on Bokke!”( Francois Pienaar, last 7 minutes of the final

match or the climax of the movie ( 1:55:11-1:55:30 )

In the last seven minutes, Francois kept firing the spirit of victory. He wanted the team to

realize the opportunity given to them by their country.

Although it was a tough game for Bokke, they managed to win with 15-12 over New

Zealand. In the movie, Francois Pienaar said to the reporter that

“We didn’t have 63.000 people support us. We had 43 million South Africans support

us.”

These lines revealed unity would bring victory. Francois Pienaar’s appreciation as

representative of whites said that only unity with blacks, Springbok can win which will

restore Rugby as a national sport for all South Africans.The movie illustrated people's

joy after winning the game. All blacks and whites went down the road and people in the

stadium cheered the Springbok’s victory. Such a beautiful moment where Rugby

flourishes the stadium that bring them together.

CONCLUSION.

Through the discussion, Invictus depicts a sense of belonging and identity issue in

South Africa. The dialog between characters, black natives and Afrikaners respond to

Springbok, Nelson Mandela and Springbok player effort on winning the game, show

how people of South Africa viewed the nation from apartheid perspective and their

movement to change this perspective, which unity in sport would reconcile these two

main divided races. The poem gives an idea to Nelson that unity would make South

Africa undefeated, not by external power but inside power, racism.

“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.”

However, this long journey did not solve the problem right away.This enormous event

only as the pioneer to dismantle racism and discrimination in South Africa.Racism and

discrimination still occur in the South Africa society which on rise.The authority or the

whites still have tension with the blacks.The violence and ruthless action happen

especially whites toward the blacks.For example, the Marikarna Massacre where 34

black miners were massacred by the police in August 16 2012.Despite the reconciliation

, racism still the product that continue preserved in South Africans society.Reported from

BBC Africa editor Fergalk Keane on his visiting the rural areas in South Africa, he
witnessed the rebellion from whites toad the reconcile government or how the the

whites still have fear toward black natives ( BBC News, December 18 2018, We will reveal

them with gravel and Resenting inequality sections).This is to say, Francois Pienaar,

Springbok, and Nelson Mandela did not wipe out the racism.They only started the

peace movement and brought fire of unity to the people.They only suppressed it by

eliminating sense of apartheid as the law of segregation. Invictus illustrates the

developing process of sense of identity and belonging for black natives and whites to

weakened apartheid.
Personal Statement.

The movie successfully reflects that culture is not only our identity, it is also the solver of

our problem like Nelson Mandela using Rugby tradition sport of Africa to overcome

racism in the country.Francois Pieenar reflects the value of how important to have hope

and trust during the crisis.Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon are impressive and

convincing in portraying the characters.

Nowadays, the issue of a sense of belonging and identity still exists in our society for

example in Indonesia. Indonesia is just like South Africa, a multicultural country means

Indonesia has a potential problem as South Africa. In Indonesia, the inequality of

development between Java Island and other provinces is significant for example

comparing Java and eastern Indonesia. Eastern Indonesia is less-developed than Java.

Papua people often experience discrimination due to black colour skin, similar to South

Africa. The struggle of Nelson Mandela and Springbok gave me the value of solidarity

and the importance of the unity of a nation. We maybe have different interpretations of

this movie, yet the value of kindness, equality, and appreciation existed in Nelson

Mandela and South Africans. South Africans were able to tackle their problem despite

the long dark history. After watching Invictus movie and learning in-depth the case, I

perceive the characters in Invictus film become the reflection for myself to strive for

better progress in my society or even the world. I ask myself and you, can we be the

“Nelson Mandela” version in our society?

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