Invictus and After

 

I watched the movie Invictus.  The movie is  based on true events of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final. Post-Apartheid South Africa’s, then President, Nelson Mandela used the opportunity for bringing unity between the whites and blacks in the divided nation.  It made me question - what it means to lead?  How many faces does discrimination have? What should a leader be like, the intention, the thoughts and how it manifests?  Do we really ever surpass our own expectations of ourselves?

Morgan Freeman played President Nelson Mandela very well. I had watched Mandela make his speech and Mr. Freeman has picked up subtle nuances very well.  Matt Damon, plays Fracios Piennar, the Captain of the South African Springbucks Rugby team. I liked his effort in speaking with an accent. I would say, he did the job well. I had to listen really careful to understand what he said.  The contrasting feelings are brought out very beautifully. The despair some of the Afrikaners feel at Mandela’s release. The fear in the Head of Security for Mandela, Jason, when he sees that the men assigned to guard the President are the very same White men of the special forces who most suspect were the ones who did the arrest, prosecution and torture of the anti-apartheid protestors.  The racial tensions that are subtle yet palpable once Mr. Mandela takes office. And finally the getting together of all the people when the team wins is just beautifully portrayed.  It is an inspiring movie.  Something very similar to Chak-De India, although the discrimination there is more regional, religion and language based than colour.  This is a movie I would recommend watching.  And Rugby wouldn’t be a sport of choice for me.  A sport should be a sport, for fun, enjoyment and entertainment, instead of coming back with black and blue bodies. Of course, that just my opinion and preference.

I have a soft corner for Clint Eastwood. He was someone whose movies I watched, growing up. I liked the quiet man, the talk less do more kind of characters he chose.  I have never met him or spoken to him, but I feel from the vibe he gives off, a sense of someone grounded, someone who is a warrior at heart, someone who is idealistic enough to want what is good and noble.  I could be wrong but I like to believe I am right. 

Most of what I watched of his movies were westerns. At the time,  I loved reading anything by Louis L’amour.   I was fascinated by cowboy country, the horse riding and being quick and precise with shooting. The hero’s sense of - honour, dignity and loyalty had a special place in my heart. I loved the idea that they had values that I valued. I loved looking into the Atlas my dad bought for me, staring at the huge continents of Americas. And as I read the westerns, I would mark the places on the map, wonder how life must be. If the landscape is as it was described. After all at the time I was in India.

Maybe it was a run off from my earlier hero worship of the Arjuna, the Hero from Mahabharatha.  I liked Arjuna, never understood why, I liked he was a good marksman. He was adept at Music and Dancing too. How many warriors from India can boast of being good with something hard like their weapons while being equally good at something soft like a musical instrument or arts?  That idea of softness tempered with hardness, appealed to me. It still does. The idea of a Man on a chariot with Bow strung and letting go of arrows that never missed their mark gave me a sense of Historical Achievement.  I still have that fascination… I don’t tire of reading about warriors and legends from the past. I guess in some part of being I live in a past I can only imagine. 

Presently I am reading the History of Koreas. Not the modern day, but the ancient ones. And they had legends too…mostly warring tribes that joined to form a Nation in that peninsula.  Every piece of earth has some hero that can be looked up to.  I find it amazing to see how alike we are. No matter where we come from, what language we speak or what foods we eat, there is always songs of someone great, of someone who lead either through wars or to peace,  and most always, they have the very same qualities of strength and character.   I like that about us, Humans.

Not to forget, as I end this write up, I had to post this poem that was read in the Film.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Invictus - William Ernest Henley (1849-1902- Gloucester, England)

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.  

Peace
Rashmi