Watching “Invictus” is like reading through a visual guide book for leaders, with one of the most powerful figures the world has ever seen in the center of it—Nelson Mandela.

However, this film is not just another lackluster and somber biographical drama, but one shaped by the hands and riveting vision of acclaimed director Clint Eastwood. By providing the right blend of drama, humor, history, and sports action, "Invictus" ends up as a feast both for entertainment and the soul.

The story begins in 1994 just as South Africa’s beloved former President (played by Morgan Freeman) commenced his term as Chief Executive. At the time he was posed with the tedious task of unifying his so-called “Rainbow Nation” so divided by racial tension for so many years and on the brink of more violent civil uprisings.

How he achieved such a Herculean task—to “balance black fears with white aspirations”—is an epitome of leadership with creativity. He put his own fascination with rugby to common good by seeking the help of Springbok’s captain François Pienaar (Matt Damon) to work their way to the 1995 World Cup, in hopes of binding their country—whose majority abhor the Green and Gold team because they represent the apartheid—through sports.

Mandela believes that what they need is inspiration, so he gives François a copy of a poem by English poet William Ernest Henley titled "Invictus," a powerful four-verse piece that triumphs the human’s “unconquerable soul.” It became the inspiration that paved to achieve what their nation had long been hungry for: greatness (see, Mandela didn’t win the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for nothing).

Shot in actual locations in Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, Eastwood is able to transport viewers back to those critical days as narrated in the book, John Carlin’s “Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation,” from which the film is based.

He also provides a glimpse of Mandela’s private life: a family man yearning to pull his family back together. However, this was not explored much, which may leave viewers wondering if he was able to succeed in doing so.

Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, who is also one of the executive producers, has Mandela’s gait, accent, and endearing charm and humor. He seemed born for it. Mandela himself even asked him to portray the role!

Mandela is the source of several quotable lines, such as: “What’s past is past. We look to the future now;” “Reconciliation starts here. Forgiveness starts here. Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon;” and “The day I am afraid to do that [taking a risk] is the day I am no longer fit to lead.”

Likewise, a buffed up Matt gives aspiring leaders someone to relate to as his own character struggles to push his own limits to bring his team together; to motivate them well enough to be “more than just a rugby team.”

He’s at his compelling best in the scene where he entered Mandela’s actual prison cell in Robben Island (where he was held for 27 long years), confused and disbelieving at how such great a man can forgive and move on despite the hardship he had to endure.

The scene of the World Cup tournament—where the Springboks pitted against the great New Zealand's All Blacks—mirrors how the Philippines behaves whenever People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao has a fight. That is, everyone is glued on their TV sets and everybody is united in one resounding prayer: victory. The slow-motion editing employed towards the end of the game made the scene literally breathtaking.

Even so, when the game ends and the film credits begin to roll, viewers will surely cheer and go, “Ole, ole, ole, ole!”

“Invictus” is distributed by Warner Brothers Pictures. Coming soon on Philippine theaters.