The bell rings the signal of homecoming In his life It's like a little sighing Black skin gives him meaning It is a lifelong dedication, a struggle for skin color Years turn possession into loss Tired eyes with expectation Today there are only remnants of the shell Greeting the glory days Embrace freedom in the wind and rain A lifetime of wandering struggles Confidence can change the future Ask who can do it again
The above lyrics are a song "Glorious Years" sung by the Hong Kong rock band Beyond, perhaps most listeners and friends only know that this song is very good, and it also symbolizes the inspirational meaning of our continuous struggle and hard work; but many people do not know the background of the song, "Glorious Years" is a song written by Beyond singer Wong Ka-koo for the black leader of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, the leader of South Africa's life is very bumpy: forced to go to prison for 27 years, Determined to change South Africa's turmoil, ethnic divisions, movement can change the world... and Mandela finally won the victory, won the respect of the countries of the world, and South Africa also returned to the world stage.
A song performed by rock band Beyond, "Glorious Years"
The film "Success in Man" depicts the story of a brave man, telling the story of the world-renowned former South African leader Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman Morganfreeman), after leaving 27 years in prison, did not embrace hatred to fight his political enemies, nor did he retaliate against the black and white apartheid policies imposed by whites. There are emotions breeding and fermenting between blacks and whites, and black compatriots still try to treat whites unfairly for many years, planning deliberately, especially for the upcoming football game, they want to teach whites a lesson. White people are inevitably afraid of the new regime coming to power, and those who can emigrate away from this country have already moved overseas to find a new life. At this time, it is the test of a great leader, and any decision by Mandela may determine whether South Africa will fall apart or not.
Morgan Freeman and former South African leader Nelson Mandela
However, Mandela was well-planned and hoped to use the movement to unite the hearts and minds of the entire country. Since white people love rugby, but the South African Springbok team's record is not outstanding, so he personally receives springbok captain Piera (Matt Damon mattdamon), in addition to encouraging him, but also releasing kindness to whites. Although Mandela's staff was bent on changing the Team's name and uniform, Mandela was able to defuse a possible national storm and give South Africa the opportunity to enter a new century without following in the footsteps of other African countries. But with only one year left to prepare for the Rugby World Series, how the South African Springboks can be reborn, find the position of the team, and open up a new realm of black and white ethnic integration for South Africa; Mandela and his colleagues finally created a new situation for South Africa, just like the lyrics sing: today there is only a residual shell, ushering in the glorious years... Confidence can change the future, ask who can do it.
Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon on the poster for the movie "Things In People."
The question of race, which has existed in this world since ancient times, is easy to say and how much can be done in fact to break through the barriers between them; and political persecution usually comes with the question of race, and therefore often creates such a vicious circle. Mandela, who has been persecuted by ethnic, political and other factors, may be the one who can most appreciate the suffering in the process, "the meaning of black skin to him is a lifelong dedication, in the struggle of skin color" Mandela took the lead as a model, choosing to forgive, with infinite leniency to tolerate the past, working with him, accompanying his side, although at first unable to understand, with time also gradually feel his ideas, only forgiveness and tolerance, the country has a future.
Mandela, played by Morgan Freeman in the film
In fact, Mandela is not only a model for his people, but also for the leaders of African countries. There are a few memorable lines in the film that read, "The people have chosen me as a leader, and all I have to do is lead them," and his secretary telling him that he is risking his political future, and Mandela replies that "if I no longer risk for the people, then I will no longer have the qualifications to lead."
Stills from the movie "Things In The Man" by Morgan Freeman
How to unite the hearts of the people of the whole country? Exercising is definitely the fastest and most effective way. Mandela knew this very well, and rather than using politics to achieve his national cohesion, it was more effective to use the movement to break down racial barriers and indirectly achieve its goals. Mandela was well aware of this and publicly declared his 100 per cent support and tried to improve the predicament of the time, but the constant struggle of the political parties in the country and the constant depletion of social resources would be something very different if they could be turned into a driving force in support of sport.
Stills from the movie "Things In People"
Maybe you had the same questions as I did at the beginning? Aren't all Black people in Africa? How can there be white people? It is said that the earliest inhabitants of South Africa were Kosan, and later there were Dutch immigrants and a small number of French and Germans, these white ethnic groups called Afrikaners, and South Africa was colonized by the British until 1961.
In the movie "Success in Man", Mandela was persecuted and imprisoned for 27 years, "the years turned into loss, and the tired eyes with expectations", perhaps this lyric has written About Mandela's past and expectations: After 27 years, how can South Africa, a turbulent, poor, backward and severely ethnically separated country, be able to reinvigorate itself and return to the world stage? When Mandela was determined to change all this, the "sighs" of doubt continued to strike, and mandela first started with the sport of rugby.
Rugbyunion is a team sport derived from football that originated in the United Kingdom. Orthodox football is a very rough and strenuous sport, similar to American football, but without a helmet or padding. The World Cup rugby tournament (webbelliscup) is the highest level of international national joint rugby competition held annually by the International Rugby Federation (IRB).
Rugbyunion
South Africa in the movie has been banned from participating in any international sporting events for many years because of the apartheid policy, and South Africa is the host country of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, so it is eligible to participate! But the South African Springboks are not at all optimistic, because they have not participated in international competitions, so they have no experience. The springboks' green-gold tops were a strong and striking mark of apartheid policy for black South Africans, who hated it because it represented the great shame that blacks had endured and wanted to eradicate forever! That's why the movie shows whites cheering for their own South African teams, while blacks cheer for the hostile British team.
Mandela knew he had to find a way to rekindle people's identification with the south African nation, he had to find a way to forget the barriers of skin color and feel the same honor and disgrace, so Mandela "expected" a rugby team representing white people to fight hard in the seemingly hopeless 1995 Rugby World Cup championship...
From the movie "Success in People", we know that the opposition between black and white is very obvious, white people love football, and black people love football. When Mandela was released from prison, he was doomed to have an insurmountable political gap waiting for him in addition to the movement. Therefore, Mandela asked the Springbok team, in addition to practicing, to teach rugby to the people, the slogan in the movie: the same country, the same team; to fulfill the expectations of President Mandela's heart. His expectations were initially not recognized by the players, but Captain Piera tried to resolve internal differences and push his teammates into it.
Slogan in the movie: Same country, same team
"He reversed the idea of the captain of the football team in just one cup of tea" Matt Damon, who plays the captain of the jumping bell team, said that the captain of the jumping bell team told him that when he entered the presidential palace to meet Mandela, Mandela politely but firmly asked him that he could lead his teammates to win the World Cup; at that time, the green-gold jersey of the Springboks symbolized apartheidism and the pride of whites, which was a rather harsh color for blacks, but he could put down his senseless persistence and talk to him sincerely. During the conversation he felt that a beautiful vision lay ahead, and as long as the team could win, there would be hope for the country, Matt Damon relayed the words of the Springbok captain.
Through this shooting experience, Matt Damon re-experienced that the springbok team leader experienced everything, including the devil's physical training and interaction with primary school students in the countryside, and the springbok team was through a series of activities to the countryside, so that everyone knew that the springbok team represented not only white people, they needed the support of compatriots across the country. Matt Damon gathered all the team members on the first day of filming and said: Please don't think of me as a movie star, I want to present this movie fairly. In the months leading up to the shooting, he was trained by the devil every day, running, lifting weights, practicing playing and various rugby terms, and Matt Damon, who rolled in the mud almost every day, said: "I feel that I am moving step by step towards a great dream, and the feeling of excitement and excitement is unprecedented! The captain of the Springbok team at that time must have felt the same way!
Matt Damon plays Springbok captain Piera
As the game got closer, so did the acceptance of rugby by blacks. Politically, the differences between blacks and whites, especially the different perceptions of The President's entourage about Vian, have also gradually embarked on a journey of melting ice. Mandela gradually realized the ideal state of "the same country, the same team" in his heart, on the contrary, if Mandela insisted on returning to his own way, then south Africa today will probably be a turbulent country, white people may have no place to stand, and it will be too late to melt the ice.
To this day, every South African who has experienced that ball game will remember that day when almost all activities in South Africa stopped, the whole country focused on the results of the game and sincerely prayed that the Springbok team could win the championship, Morgan Freeman said: Among the 7 billion people of our planet, no one can have such influence, except For Mandela, who used the lyrics "Only the remaining shell today" to disintegrate everyone's defenses, let the people of the whole country put aside their opposing hatred, and bring the country to the light. This is also the meaning of Mandela's dedication to life.
Former South African leader Nelson Mandela
In the director's meticulous mirroring, the screenwriter cleverly integrated into the rugby plot, so that the tense social situation has eased. Despite the strong enemies in front of the Springboks, the players still broke through the difficulties, encountered the difficult New Zealand blackshirts, fearless of the opponent's imposing warrior dance, and finally struggled to keep the championship they deserved. Suddenly, there seemed to be a new look between black and white, and through movement, the two races became one, cheering and embracing each other for this rare victory. This is mandela's wisdom, hoping that the country will not repeat the same mistakes and practice the spirit of "one country, one team".
Individual sports aside, other sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball, and football are key to team spirit. Taking this year's 2010 World Football Championship as an example, the French team was originally the runner-up in the previous year, and was expected to be the favorite team to win the bid, but it did not have the opportunity to break into the round of 16 because of infighting. Even the French players ignored the World Football Championship as a symbol of national honor, the sword between the players and the coach, the rumors of the strike were very loud, and finally led to the military's discouragement, like a defeated rooster, spurned by the people. Because these players forget that the team represents the country to some extent, the team has good results, the country is also honored, and vice versa.
Mandela understood this well, through his attention to the captain of the Springbok and his righteousness to the black comrades, through the team to teach the ball, so that a second-rate team through the World Series, united the hearts and minds of the people of South Africa. Mandela was convinced that the night of the South African nation would end and the dawn would come, just as he had spent the dark hours of his life in prison reciting a poem: the darkness of the night enveloped me, the poles were like dark cellars, and I thanked the unknown God for giving me an undefeated heart. Even if the environment is dangerous and critical, I will not flinch or cry, and I will not give in to the coercion of timing and the blood flowing all over my face. Beyond this intersection of grief and indignation, the haze of terror is gradually approaching, and the threat of time is lingering, and I will eventually have nothing to fear. Even though the passage is extremely dangerous, although the severe punishment is endless, I am the master of my destiny, I am the commander of the soul. With this unparalleled spirit of perseverance, President Mandela gave South Africa a new look.
The final main line of the plot is in the rugby field, the whole process of the Springbok team from not optimistic, all the way to the final, and get the support and cheers of the people of South Africa, both black and white; from time to time to bring some delicate pictures of President Mandela, often make the audience smile...
The film restores historical moments
The Captain of the Springbok Team encouraged the team members with a sentence: Listen to your country, it is this cheer! This is our destiny! In the end, the Springboks won the World Cup; a great president, coupled with a wise captain, made the country immortal legend and ushered in the glorious years that belonged to the South African people.
The reason why great people are great people is because they have a strong will that is beyond ordinary people, especially in times of greater difficulty, they have a pattern that is beyond ordinary people, they are convinced that the blueprint and vision in their hearts can bring a better life to their nation and even to all mankind, and they know how to implement it, and they are willing to spend a lifetime of limited time to implement and practice the right things. This kind of person with extraordinary will usually has a superior mass charm, as long as they ascend to a high level, the followers are all moved, from the gentry to the peddlers, waiting to serve him, as Mandela was in South Africa.
Although the plot of this movie is very simple and simple, the details of the entire plot are depicted very deeply and delicately, making it very easy for the audience to enter the plot, recognize the time and space background of the play, and understand the direction of Mandela's struggle: for the peace and unity of South Africa, sacrifice the small self, complete the big self, pave the way for the future integration of races, and also lay the foundation for the future government to govern the society; throughout Mandela's life, it is like the lyrics: Today there is only a residual shell, greeting the glorious years... Confidence can change the future, ask who can do it, South Africa finally ushered in the glory days, Mandela is indispensable. At the end of the film, the Springbok team miraculously won the victory, and at that moment, the whole country rejoiced, blacks and whites, rejoiced and celebrated together, and the deliberately slowed down picture in the movie was quite beautiful and touching.
Beyond's song "Glorious Years" for Mandela