Reconciliation

Gr 9 Up—This informative, eye-opening, and moving documentary details how Nelson Mandela saved South Africa from civil war during the transition from apartheid to democracy. The film begins with commentary by Clint Eastwood on the set of Invictus, the dramatic true story of how Mandela and the captain of South Africa's rugby team joined forces in 1995 to help unite the country. Members of the Springboks rugby team also offer their comments. The history of South Africa under apartheid, Mandela's imprisonment, his election as president, and his drive to unify the country are discussed. The importance of that World Cup rugby match in unifying South Africans is well documented. Footage of violence and conflict under apartheid and commentary by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and various political and law enforcement leaders are interspersed with clips from Invictus as well as actual footage of the Springboks. Mandela's courage, perseverance, inspiration, magnanimity, and generosity pervade the production. While the film is too lengthy to view in one class period, it could be shown in installments and will lead to interesting discussions about apartheid and South Africa and will have viewers drawing parallels to current situations in the world. Most students will also want to see Invictus, if they haven't already.—Cynthia Ortiz, Hackensack High School, NJ