"Invictus" Community

As a universal language, sports bring people of different race and background together and cure discrimination. Based on true historical events, the movie “Invictus” tells us an inspiring and compassionate story about how Nelson Mandela, who became the President of South Africa after his release from the prison, has made great efforts to help the national rugby team win the 1995 world cup. Through the movie, we learned when people put aside their differences and unify together as a true community, they can achieve great victory.

The movie focuses on Mandela’s determination to unite South Africa using the national Rugby team Springboks as leverage to bring the white Afrikaner and the black natives together. The important of a united community is manifested through the story - it brings out the best of everyone to benefit the community as a whole and win. The movie shows us the key ingredient of establishing a united community – skillful leadership with genuine care.  In the movie, the President Mandela and the Captain of the Rugby team Francois join forces to lead a divided team to come together.  The President demonstrated his strong will of getting rid of the apartheid by keeping the staff who worked for the ex-president, hiring white Afrikaners as his bodyguard, and requesting more black players on the rugby team.  Although things didn’t go well initially due to the racial hung-ups, it is through the essential decision and the effort of the leaders that they are forced to work together and gradually see past their differences and find common ground between them – win for their country.  

During the process of building a united team, the President keeps it his responsibility to follow up on the team even when he is ill. Not only he is dedicated to the task himself, he also knows the importance for the players to connect with each other. He orders the players to take occasional breaks from Rugby to go out into the poorer areas and teach rugby to the natives. Through the common interest in sports, soon enough the entire team is out there helping children to learn rugby and install national pride, regardless of race. Playing rugby together makes them feel connected and identified as one community. From here we can see that engaging in activities together effectively brings a sense of togetherness and makes the members of community to bond easily.

Sport is an amazing event through which united community could be built with effective leadership.  As for the movie’s ending, the rugby team's victory is a triumph for the South Africa, and a metaphor for racial harmony.