Invictus
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon
On national release from Jan 28 (Roadshow)

The idea of linking the launch of South Africa’s post-apartheid “rainbow nation” with the Rugby World 1995 has special resonance with New Zealanders.

Yet this film may leave them wondering. For a start, the alleged food poisoning of the All Blacks is missing. The All Blacks themselves are depicted as little more than Jonah Lomu and some Sunday afternoon players.

An old joke from Iraq’s Saddam Hussein era describes the aftermath of an “election.” A minister comes to inform the dictator that he received 99.9% of the votes and offers congratulations on yet another victory. Saddam’s face turns red with anger. The minister stammers, “Esteemed ruler, you won 99.9%. What else could you possibly want?” Saddam slams his fist on the table and shouts, “I want the traitors’ names!”

Harcourts International Ltd today announced a joint venture with a major South African real estate company, Homenet Group, in its “most significant” step overseas since it established Harcourts Australia more than ten years ago.

Harcourts is taking a shareholding in the local company, and licensing them to use its brand and systems over the next twelve to eighteen months.