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The title comes from a William Ernest Henley poem. Nelson Mandela found it inspirational as he languished for years in a small prison cell. To summarize the theme of the poem Henley rejects negativity in the face of whatever fate might throw at him. He closes – I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul. At one point in Clint Eastwood’s new film, Mandela gives the poem to Francois Pienaar, the beleaguered captain of the South African rugby team, to inspire him to inspire a nation.

When Mandela (Morgan Freeman, MILLION DOLLAR BABY) was elected president, South Africa was still divided over apartheid. His chief goal was the help mend the wounds of the past. He kept many of the government workers from the previous administration. Against the wishes of his own security head Jason Tshabalala (Tony Kgoroge, HOTEL RWANDA), he even kept many of the secret service officers that once rounded up the freedom fighters who now serve as government officials.

But not all were as forgiving of the other side. With blacks in charge, the sports authority moved to take a stab at what they viewed as the symbol of the apartheid era — the national rugby team, the Springboks. They voted to change the name and colors until Mandela interceded. In his mind, the move would have only alienated the majority blacks from the wealthy and influential whites even further, because they would be killing their beloved team. He says it’s a human calculation more so than a political one. Next Mandela goes a step further, using the upcoming 1995 Rugby World Cup to be held in South Africa as a way to bring the country together under a common national interest. The only problem is the Springboks aren’t expected to get out of the quarterfinals at best.

So he meets with team captain Pienaar (Matt Damon, THE INFORMANT!) to inspire him to inspire his team to exceed expectations. In his subtle positive way, Mandela instills the importance of the World Cup to Pienaar as a way to heal the country. Inspired by Mandela’s persona, he brings the same positive reinforcement to his fellow players who aren’t so keen on learning the words to the new national anthem or taking time off from practicing to teach rugby to black ghetto children. Pienaar even has push back from his own family. His father (Patrick Lyster, I DREAMED OF AFRICA) has the paranoid fears of many whites that the blacks would take their lands and jobs like other African countries had done.

Clint Eastwood, working from Anthony Peckham’s script based on John Carlin’s book, isn’t interested in making a traditional biopic. He doesn’t go through a checklist of Mandela’s accomplishments. The story is focused on how the leader used national pride to bring together opposing sides. But like all good biopics, the film embodies who Mandela was. Freeman is excellent as the born inspirational leader. He naturally makes people — whether white or black — want to follow him, even when they don’t agree with him all the time. And yet, the film doesn’t paint him as a saint. In trying to lead a country, he alienates his own family who don’t even live with him. There are also hints of infidelities.

Damon plays Pienaar as a new disciple. He believes the best way to lead is by example and is impressed by Mandela when the president invites him to tea. In Mandela’s way of seeing the good in everyone, Pienaar sees the good that his team’s success could have. The great leader Mandela encourages other leaders.

In a great subplot, we see Tshabalala and his men barely able to talk to the white guards, led by Etienne Feyder (Julian Lewis Jones, THE BANK JOB), at first. Their story is a microcosm of the nation as a whole, but in reverse. The black guards mistrust the whites’ intentions. But in the end, they come together over common goals. Eastwood and Peckham are patient with how they develop the characters and their gaining respect for each other.

As for rugby, I didn’t leave the film understanding the game any more fully then when I went in. However, Eastwood still makes the sport thrilling. They are warriors out there on the field. At one point a white character tells a joke. What’s the difference between soccer and rugby? Soccer is a gentlemen’s sport played by hooligans, while rugby is a hooligans’ sport played by gentlemen. You can see why the native Africans always rooted for whoever was playing against the Springboks in the past.

What makes this film more than just your typical inspirational sports movie is the scope. Through Mandela and Pienaar’s story, the historical drama embodies the notion of leading by example. Of course, the power of their personalities is brought to life in Oscar-worthy performances from Freeman and Damon. Eastwood skillfully handles several subplots as well, including the presidential bodyguards, Pienaar’s family and their black maid, and even a young poor boy and some police officers. Because of the scope, we see how Mandela’s leadership trickles down. Mandela sees the bigger picture and recognizes that dwelling on past injustices does nothing to move a country forward. One could see this as a call for the Obama era as well.

Some have complained that the title is not great. It’s Latin for unconquered. For a film about the spirit of Nelson Mandela I think it’s perfect.