Having recently watched Clint Eastwood's 2009 US release of 'Invictus' (Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon et al) about how newly-installed President Nelson Mandella used the game of rugby at it's World Championship level to unite a badly torn South Africa in the 1990s, I was also inspired by this little-known independent film by Ryan Little on a smaller scale. I was glad to see the results were drawn-on and created-from real-life events (BTW, it is NOT a 'Hollywood production' as so many of you have incorrectly stated). It's a small budget film with credible actors who had the courage and took the time to portray this compilation of real events. If you didn't care for the 'accuracy' on the rugby field, the pregame Maori chants or actor flaws you're too narrowly focused and missed the whole point of the film. Shame on you. IMHO, it displayed exactly what it was intended to do - a depiction of the rehabilitation of wayward young men through the supreme efforts required in an extremely rugged sport ('...soccer's for kids, football's for wuss's, rugby's for men' - remember the line?). I was impressed with the efforts of all concerned to show it's possible to make directional - and good - changes in one's life through hard effort, intra-personal inspection, team unity and a willingness to listen to gentle and persistent instruction from those wiser than you. I genuinely enjoyed the film. And this one, and 'Invictus', have given me a totally new appreciation for the sport of rugby; I'm learning more as I study it and am looking forward to watching my first 'live' game. I'm thinking I could become a real fan...beats the heck out of lame US football.
Review of Forever Strong
