Posted: April 30th, 2023

Paper Invictus essay

Paper Invictus This assignment will ask you to analyze leadership by evaluating how small actions and decision made each day coupled with communication style build your influence with those around you. Paper: write a 1500-­‐word concise paper (one that is to the point, is grammatically correct and free of punctuation errors) that describes the importance true leadership plays in the movie “Invictus”. Relate concepts discussed in class to the actions of the two main characters of the film—both good and bad choices they make in regards to leadership. BE VERY SPECIFIC IN YOUR EXPLANATION (you do not need to go into a lot of detail of the scenes as I have seen the movie, but you do need to demonstrate your understanding of leadership principles). If your explanation is vague or general, you will lose points off the final grade.

Description of Movie On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) is released from Victor Verster Prison after having spent 27 years in jail. Four years later, Mandela is elected the first black President of South Africa. His presidency faces enormous challenges in the post-­‐Apartheid era, including rampant poverty and crime, and Mandela is particularly concerned about racial divisions between black and white South Africans, which could lead to violence. The ill will which both groups hold towards each other is seen even in his own security detail where relations between the established white officers, who had guarded Mandela’s predecessors, and the black ANC additions to the security detail, are frosty and marked by mutual distrust. While attending a game between the Springboks, the country’s rugby union team, and England, Mandela recognizes that the blacks in the stadium are cheering for

England, as the mostly-­‐white Springboks represent prejudice and apartheid in their minds; he remarks that he did the same while imprisoned on Robben Island. Knowing that South Africa is set to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup in one year’s time, Mandela persuades a meeting of the newly black-­‐dominated South African Sports Committee to support the Springboks. He then meets with the captain of the Springboks rugby team, François Pienaar (Matt Damon), and implies that a Springboks victory in the World Cup will unite and inspire the nation. Mandela also shares with François a British poem, “Invictus” that had inspired him during his time in prison. François and his teammates train. Many South Africans, both black and white, doubt that rugby will unite a nation torn apart by nearly 50 years of racial tensions, as for many blacks, especially the radicals, the Springboks symbolize white supremacy. Both Mandela and Pienaar, however, stand firmly behind their theory that the game can successfully unite the South African country. Things begin to change as the players interact with the fans and begin a friendship with them. During the opening games, support for the Springboks begins to grow among the black population. By the second game, the whole country comes together to support the Springboks and Mandela’s efforts. Mandela’s security team also grows closer as the various officers come to respect their comrades’ professionalism and dedication. The Springboks surpass all expectations and qualify for the final against The All Blacks—South Africa’s arch-­‐ rivals. New Zealand and South Africa were universally regarded as the two greatest rugby nations, with the Springboks being the only side to have a winning record against the All Blacks up to this point. The first test

series between the two countries in 1921 was the beginning of an intense rivalry, with emotions running high whenever the two nations met on the rugby field. Before the game, the Springbok team visits Robben Island, where Mandela spent the first 18 of his 27 years in jail. There Pienaar is inspired by Mandela’s will and his idea of self-­‐mastery in “Invictus”. François mentions his amazement that Mandela “could spend thirty years in a tiny cell, and come out ready to forgive the people who put [him] there”. Supported by a large home crowd of all races, Pienaar motivates his team. Mandela’s security detail receives a scare when, just before the match, a South African Airways Boeing 747 jetliner flies in low over the stadium. It is not an assassination attempt though, but a demonstration of patriotism, with the message “Good Luck, Bokke” — the Springboks’ Afrikaans nickname — painted on the undersides of the plane’s wings. The Springboks win the match on an added time long drop-­‐kick from fly-­‐half Joel Stransky, with a score of 15–12. Mandela and Pienaar meet on the field together to celebrate the improbable and unexpected victory. Mandela’s car then drives away in the traffic-­‐jammed streets leaving the stadium. As Mandela watches the South Africans celebrating together from the car, his voice is heard reciting.

Some Points to consider in Paper

1. Watch carefully leadership traits on display in scenes from “Invictus”. Connect these scenes to the concepts discussed in class about being a leader.

2. Identify and describe the leadership traits demonstrated by the two main characters. 3. According to President Mandela, as portrayed by Morgan Freeman in this film, what is the essence of

leadership? 4. What are some traits we see in President Mandela’s character that shows he’s a good leader? What

are some leadership traits we see in Francois, as portrayed by Matt Damon? 5. What does the poem Invictus mean to Mandela? What might we expect Invictius to mean for South

Africa as a nation? Why is it important as a leader to unify its followers even when times get rough? 6. Explain why a sports team’s performance can affect the larger institution (like a nation) and how this

performance can transcend into a form of leadership 7. Relate how Emotional Intelligence plays a role in the decisions the characters make. 8. Invictus looks like a good movie, but so what? What can we take-­‐away from this movie to help us

become better leaders?

Barber, G., Birnbaun, R., Eastwood, C., Freeman, M., Hofmeyr, G., Lorenz, R., McCreary, L., Moore, T., & Neufeld, M. (Producers), & Eastwood, C. (Director). (2009). Invictus (Motion picture). United States: Warner Brothers Pictures.

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