The pioneering life of William Wilberforce is captured in the film Amazing Grace. Wilberforce is beginning the antislavery movement in the British Empire. The slave trade is not an easy conversation topic, and harder still when speaking with children. Yet this does not mean this topic should be avoided. In fact, this film can be used as a jumping point into conversations that need occur with the hard topics of slavery, drug addiction, determination, and religion. It can be used as an educational tool in either school or home settings to teach about the slave trade and government workings.
Throughout the film we see Wilberforce grow in passion and determination until the knowledge of the horrendous actions of slavery accompanied by no success and an addiction to laudanum drive him to mental insecurity. If the film stopped there the child, and parent / teacher, would need a heavy dose of reflection and personal counseling to get over the heart tearing horror of personal destruction for a worthy cause. Fortunately the film doesn’t stop there, and we see Wilberforce’s re-birth of faith and renewed determination to defeat the terror of the slave trade. This renewal is one point that would be beneficial to highlight when speaking about this film with a child.
Wilberforce does not make this journey alone. He is drafted by his good friend, William Pitt the Younger, to take on the cause of God (destroying the slave trade) and help meet his own political ends (have a prestigious seat in parliament). William Pitt the Younger also happens to become the prime minister and is cheering Wilberforce on and trying his very best to make sure there are enough votes in the parliament on Wilberforce’s side. Wilberforce is also backed by his friends Thomas Clarkson, Olaudah Equiano, and his oldest friend and confidante John Newton. A prestigious member of parliament, Lord Fox, comes to support the elimination of the slave trade as well.
Whether the film is purely educational or entertainment, all children will need a parent or adult to guide them through the topics of slavery, addiction, political unrest, war, and the worth of souls that are elegantly presented with Wilberforce’s journey. Along with these emotionally taxing topics we are presented with the themes of life, re-birth, determination, overcoming trials, one man can make a difference, and religious security. Simply stated this film gives elegance and dignity to the treacherous journey the anti-slavery movement went through.
WC: 408
Title: Amazing Grace (UK 2006) (US 2007)
Director: Michael Aped
Writer: Steven Knight
Production: FourBoys Films, Walden media, Bristol Bay Productions
Run Time: 177 minutes
Language: English
Color
Sound Mix: SDDS / Dolby Digital/ DTS
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Genre: Drama/ Historical/ Biography
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