Invictus (2009) - François Pienaar Meets Mandela: One of the pivotal scenes in the film is when Mandela meets with the captain of the national rugby team, François Pienaar, to discuss the importance of the Rugby World Cup for uniting the country. Mandela shares his vision of using the event as a tool to bridge the racial divide. MOVIE INFO Following the fall of apartheid, newly elected President Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) faces a South Africa that is racially and economically divided. Believing he can unite his countrymen through the universal language of sport, Mandela joins forces with Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), captain of the rugby team, to rally South Africans behind a bid for the 1995 World Cup Championship. Director: Clint Eastwood Writer: Anthony Peckham Release Date (Theaters): Dec 11, 2009 Limited Release Date (Streaming): Oct 23, 2011 Box Office (Gross USA): $37.5M