Amazing Grace:

how sweet the sound...

My mother and I went to see Amazing Grace, the movie, last night. It was also free popcorn Tuesday...so Bonus there! The film was very well put together. I could make some comparisons with the book I'm reading (but haven't finished)and the film adaptation. Ioan Gruffudd as the title character of William Wilberforce did a superb job of bringing out the turmoil of someone who had recieved a spark of religious feeling as young child, then was encouraged to live a life of frivolity. This life of frivolity tormented him as wasted time in his middle age and acted as an engine that kept him moving forward in his desire to perpetuate good in his society.
Benedict Cumberbatch, as William Pitt, the Younger, was superb. He has an easiness on the screen that seemed to allow you in to the strong bond of friendship that Pitt and Wilberforce shared throughout their lives.
Politics does make interesting bedfellows as in the case of Charles Fox coming over to support William Wilberforce in parliament. Michael Gambon is fabulous as Lord Fox. There was also the components of clergy and other religious people who had their strong anti-slavery stance, but disagreed on which avenues to take to end the trade.
Albert Finney strikes a sympathetic cord for viewers as a man on a road of life-long repentance as a former slave boat captain. He says that he lives with the ghost of 20,000 souls whom he did not help.
Mixed into the politics in Britain is the revolutionary zeal of the Americans, which left a bad taste in the mouth of the British and just as things looked up for the anti-slavery bill before Parliament France had its own revolution. During the war with France anything that was said negatively against how the British government operated was considered seditious.
From beginning to end I felt the film kept the thread woven through that time wasn't stopping for those being stolen and sold into slavery while people were debating whether they were human enough to deserve being free. The anguish of being defeated year after year was shown in the dark circles and lines of the characters' faces. I am greatful that my children can not fathom why people would treat others that way.

This is a wonderful film! If you have children it would be a good history lesson, as well.