When I went to bed last night I decided to put in my DVD of Amazing Grace. I figured I'd watch about half an hour of it and fall asleep. Before I knew it, I'd watched the whole film. It had been several months since I'd seen it and I had forgotten how incredible it is. It seems that whenever I watch it I want to write and tell others about it. I'm sure this won't be the last time.It is the true story of William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffud,) an MP (minister of parliament) in the late 18th century. When his best friend, William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch,) becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain, he appeals to Wilberforce's sense of fairness and morality and challenges him to take on the daunting task to push for the abolition of the slave trade throughout the British empire.
Wilberforce's efforts go on for years, mostly unsuccessful. However, he has Pitt on his side, a few maverick abolitionists, and John Newton--his former preacher in school and a former slave ship owner who repented of his sins and has sought to redeem himself in his later years. Newton (Albert Finney)also penned the famous hymn Amazing Grace. Wilber (the nickname Wilberforce is known by) visits him periodically for pep talks and encouragement.
After years and years, Wilberforce is tired, sick, discouraged, and ready to let someone else try what he has failed to do. But what he doesn't realize is how many admirers he's amassed, among them, Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai), who, thanks to the efforts of his cousin, Henry, he keeps getting thrown together with. After a luncheon at Henry's house, Barbara persuades Wilber to tell her about his work. His explanation becomes the film we see, which is told in flashbacks up until that point in time.
After that conversation, Wilber is inspired to try to get his bill passed in parliament one last time.
Amazing Grace is one of those special films that is perfect from start to finish. The story and acting are SUPERB. It did not get a lot of publicity and it's almost *too* good to appeal to the masses. There are no impressive special effects and adventure scenes, as it is mostly dialogue. It is also interesting to note that a movie about slavery hardly shows any slaves. To illustrate the mentality of the arguing lawmakers and social elite, the images of slavery are kept in the distance by showing us empty ships and a few haunting images that invade Wilberforce's dreams. But for the most part, you don't think about it until Wilberforce comes along and forces you to think about it. Yet somehow, slavery's looming presence is the strongest character in the film, only making its entrance at the most powerful moments.
Nothing I can say about this film is enough to do it justice, but at this time of year when many of us are thinking about America and freedom, what better time than now to learn about the struggles of others? Amazing Grace's story is one more piece of the puzzle that tries to unite all of humanity. It boggles the mind at how many were and still are resistant to do so.
“The grand object of my parliamentary existence is the abolition of
the slave trade. Before this great cause all others dwindle in my eyes.
If it please God to honor me so far, may I be the instrument of stopping
such a course of wickedness and cruelty as never before disgraced a
Christian country.”
--William Wilberforce
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