No doubt timed to coincide with the bicentenary of the UK’s abolition of its slave trade, Amazing Grace is a well-meaning but overly polite film, in which cruelty and violence are spoken of, but not seen. By asking us to be stirred by those who fought racist persecution, while wishing not to sully us with the deeds, the film rather denudes itself of drama.
That said, it does resonate, not least because racial intolerance is still very much among us, and because it recounts a moment when young parliamentarians took on the old guard, in seeking to use their power for limitless good. There’s a reminder of the first flush of Tony Blair in William Wilberforce, the MP who led the abolitionists in the Commons; though the latter’s legacy has withstood the test of time in a way that the recent prime minister’s will not.
The film opens in 1797, with Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) exhausted and ill. By this time his campaign has been waging for years, defeated by MPs with vested interests either in the slave trade directly, or in the plantations of the West Indies which are fuelled by slavery. It’s a canny place to start, for this is also the year when Wilberforce meets Barbara Spooner (Romolai Garai), his future wife. Recounting to her the crusade to date, the politician is slowly re-energised by Barbara’s injection of belief, which casts him and the film into the final push towards victory.
This isn’t going to rouse you with hyperbolic emotion. Michael Apted, a steady, unflashy director, simply lets the story do the talking, while calmly colouring its fascinating political backdrop – of an Empire informed by greed and made uncertain by revolutions in America and France. A top-notch cast bring the historical characters to life, among them Toby Jones as a poisonous Duke of Clarence, Albert Finney as John Newton, the former slave trader who penned the eponymous hymn, and Rufus Sewell as the abolitionist Thomas Clarkson. The singer Youssou N’Dour lends a quiet dignity to Ouladah Equiano, the former slave who articulated his experiences so tellingly.
An inspirational film of the life and political career of William Wilberforce, the English Member of Parliament who, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, led a courageous 20-year campaign to abolish England's participation in the slave trade. Ioan Gruffudd takes the role of the impassioned Wilberforce, slowly building the abolitionist movement through brilliant oratory and political manoeuvring.
This is a powerfuland carefully produced film. The script was brilliantly tight and barely a word was wasted. The sets were very authentic and cost I heard a reported ... more >
This is a powerfuland carefully produced film. The script was brilliantly tight and barely a word was wasted. The sets were very authentic and cost I heard a reported £30 million. Beyond the walls of Wilberforce's home the world of London was presented in a dark and brooding manner which reinforced the sense of the legitimised evil that Wilberforce and his associates were fighting.
The mainly ensemble British acting was of the highest order. Outstanding performances amongst others were given by Ioan Gruffudd who superbly conveyed the complexities of Wilberforce's character, Michael Gambon,Rufus Sewell,Benjamin Cumberbatch, and Romola Garai with a superb cameo of the reformed and redeemed slaver, John Newton, by Albert Finney.Balance was given by recognition of the important role of Oloudaqh Equiano played by Youssou N'Dorr.However, some historical license was taken in order to create dramatic effect.This included the Duke of Clarence sitting in the House of Commons and James Fox,one of the greatest orators and reformers of the day, giving the final paean of praise to Wilberforce when in history he had already died.
Never mix politics and religion we are told, yet the film does it successfully by embellishing the issue with a real wit and humour.The power of the film lies to a great extent in its understatement which makes it very British and it will be interesting to see how well it does in the States.The deliberately diverted visit of MP's and their consorts to the moored slave ship was a metaphor of this. The power of the misery was conveyed without it being completely thrust in the face. The final tribute to Wilberforce was another notable example of the power of the use of a few chosen words rather than many.
The film was both moving and inspirational. In this era of the quick fix, it reminded us, as do the lives of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu,of the importance of never giving up in the fight for a more just and humane world. Evil prospers when good men and women do nothing -but we need to do it again and again and again. There are more slaves in the world today than there were at the time of abolition and I trust this film will inspire another generation to continue the struggle.For those who want a more politically correct revisionist view of history and who cry paternalism, it needs to be emphasised that Wilberforce and his supporters took on the might of the political and economic establishment of the day and won. Yes he was a compassionate man but he was also a great champion of justice and justice above all requires that we see those who we are trying to help as equals.This is an outstanding piece of film making that does justice to the achievement of Wilberforce and his associates. < less
By Howard Schumann on 4th June 2007
The life and political career of an unlikely hero, William Wilberforce, a member of the British Parliament in the 18th century who led a courageous twenty-year campaig... more >
The life and political career of an unlikely hero, William Wilberforce, a member of the British Parliament in the 18th century who led a courageous twenty-year campaign to abolish England’s participation in the African slave trade, is dramatized in Michael Apted’s Amazing Grace. The title is derived from the popular hymn whose words were written by John Newton, a former captain of slave ships whose soul was redeemed by his faith. Wilberforce is played by Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd who brings passion to the role of the sickly leader who was on medication to relieve the symptoms of Colitis most of his life, yet maintained a single-minded dedication to a cause despite fierce opposition.
We see his wit and humor in the Parliamentary debates on slavery, his struggles with his faith, his friendship with the young Prime Minister William Pitt, and his romance and marriage to activist Barbara Spooner who shares his dedication to abolition. At the urging of Pitt, Wilberforce puts together a Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade that began gathering facts to present to Parliament and introduces his first bill to abolish the slave trade in 1791, one of many bills he was to present over the next twenty years.
Though there is no actual depiction of the brutality of the African slave trade, there is ample evidence presented in debate. The opposition to abolition, however, remains strong, led by Lord Tarlton (Ciaran Hinds), and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones) who vow to protect the economic benefits of slavery. Amazing Grace is an inspiring film that captures the period with authenticity and shows us that political leaders can also be individuals of moral conviction who are capable of leaving the world in a better place than they found it.
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The Lives of Others
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Amazing Grace
