Phoenix TV Blog: Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace (2007)

It took a lot of convincing for me to see this movie. I deciphered from the name ‘Amazing Grace’ which is a well known Christian hymn what this movie was about. I have to admit the connotations of ‘abolition of slavery’ ensued me picturing the demonisation of white men, mostly in positions of power in the realm of Parliament or the slave ship, and the unspeakable inhumanity suffered by the Africans. There is no doubt that the Africans as a group were subject to such hellishness but I know that they were not the only group that were oppressed as slavery was not a Black exclusive problem and also I am finding the whole ‘Whites must pay for evils inflicted upon blacks by white ancestors’ cries to be quite tiresome. But what I saw was something quite different.

Set in the 18th century Britain, Michael Apted’s movie is about the campaign against the slave trade and the famous abolitionist, William Wilberforce (played very well by Ioan Gruffudd) who after wrestling with his illness and his future and seeing with his eyes the abhorrent activities underway in the West Indies, is determined to grab the British Parliament by the horns and put an end to the slave trade altogether. Amazing Grace is what can be called “a quintessential historical biopic.” We have also fantastic performances by Richard Bailey, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Romola Garai, Rufus Sewell, Nick Thomas Webster and Youssou N'Dour.

SPOILER BEGIN

During the film we see Wilberforce’s poignant story being told to his future wife and the future Prime Minister and best friend, William Pitt (played to excellence with great power by Benedict Cumberbatch), keeping him on track by persuading him and others to take on the extremely dangerous and taboo issue of the British Slave Trade. Wilberforce faces relentless pressure by many factors including his illness, his unpopularity in the House of Commons, his love of naturalism and his frustration at his inability to change anything. In the government. Throughout the movie, Wilberforce’s enormous, inspirational inner strength propels him to towards his goal with a passion that words cannot describe.

This movie did not need to constantly bombard us with consistent, horrific imagery of the African’s suffering on the slave ships etc. – the words which came from the mouths of grievously remorseful former captains of the British expeditions and trades etc. amplified it in a far more powerful way and really showed the humanity of the people regardless of their status and the colour of their skin. I was worried they would simply show all the white people as complacent, even greedy slave drivers – which of course they were more often than not though I am sure a substantial proportion of Brits were secretly against the slave trade – but they instead showed that the slavery was more about the struggle for survival. A cruel method of survival with the age old violation of equality and the ambition of the British Empire I thought was not above using whatever it had at its disposal to conquer the world. Yes they faced threats from the French – the survival excuse here – and that shows the cruelty of it blatantly. Not that they showed it as the movie was dominated by politicians, but the majority of British Citizens I have heard were also against the slave trade – and that is a far greater number than the people in power. This movie showed the heat of the battle at the top.

Gruffudd’s Wilberforce in spite of his pressures which were monumental, was evidently a very strong man who was genuinely abhorrent of the atrocities being fired at the Africans and his performance along with the great cast of positively portrayed male characters made me literally glow during the movie and by the end of it I was blown away. The theme of friendship and comradeship and its significance in teamwork and motivation really moved me as well. The relationship of honesty and faith between Pitt and Wilberforce was one of the best performances I have seen in a long time. The wife was likeable (and very good looking) and supportive of him all the way after their many intellectually stimulating conversations. Wilberforce, despite being a man of high power (whom are stereotyped as talking only to other men of power as equals) being an animal lover (with his house full of rabbits etc. was a campaigner of the abolition of cruelty to animals) and a champion of freedom of justice and would talk to anyone regardless of rank – his cook for instance – as an equal. In fact save a few (and even they turn good in the end as men do more often than not after intellectual defeat) all the men in the movie are portrayed as very human and strong people. There is virtually no violence at all save the odd scenes of foggy African slaves in turmoil. There was one strong individual called Equiano who showed us the chains etc. and was present in the Wilberforce’s meetings.

This movie made me feel proud to be a man and one of a just mindset who will sacrifice all that he holds dear for the right reasons. And that is not about war or saving women and children from sinking ships but about saving his fellow human beings and improving humanity to the best it can be. I couldn’t help compare this movie to today’s situation regarding the fourth class (after animals) status of men in the West. The slave trade was something that people had become desensitised to. As if it was normal. Something that was taboo to speak against or bring up. It just was. The majority of citizens secretly loathed it and knew something no matter what that might be was not right and eventually someone with balls of steel challenged it. He was shut up, then ridiculed then taken seriously and finally accepted. Will the current silence of men ever follow such a journey? Will the most taboo – the most repulsive of all subjects namely male vulnerability and the silence of men – finally be analysed with a telescope capable of penetrating through the clouds of feminism and political correctness? There are a growing number of men and women who are variably aware of something invisible and toxic. Misandry - the hate that dare not speak its name. Who will speak out against it? It could be you. Someone who is an inspiration to all men. Someone like William Wilberforce as depicted in Amazing Grace.

SPOILER END

In conclusion this was a refreshing and extremely gripping and excellent movie about the spirit of man and justice. When the bill was finally passed a member of Parliament said something along the lines of “When we think of strong men we think of the likes of Napoleon. Seldom do we hear of strong men who are peaceful. William Wilberforce is such a man.” This couldn’t be more true. It is something the radical Black leaders and of course feminists have forgotten because we never hear about it. If you are a white male do not feel guilty for what your ancestors may or may not have done. You had nothing to do with it.