At the close of the 1800s, William Wilberforce is still crusading against slavery, but is so ill, he must take refuge with his cousin in Bath, Somerset with his cousin. His cousin's wife is under the impression that a wife would clear the worst of William's problems.
Flash back to younger days, when William's best friend William Pitt, who later becomes Prime Minister, and the highly political and anti-slavery Hannah More, Thomas Clarkson and Olaudah Equiano, convince Wilberforce to push his opinion in Parliament as a Member of the House of Commons. His anti-slavery bill is opposed again and again, and most members of Parliament are expected to vote against it each time around, despite the passionate pleas of Wilberforce.
Flash back to the "present," where William is telling his story of failure to the equally passionate, and slave-opposed Barbara Spooner. Since the coupling was encouraged by his cousin and his cousin's wife, Wilberforce allows Barbara to hear his successes and failures. After that special night together, the two decide to marry (much to the elation of William's friends and supporters).
After years of toiling against slavery, and years of being voted down, Wilberforce's love for Barbara, and the return of his attorney, give him the idea and drive he needs to push abolition through Parliament. Of course, members of Parliament were tricked into thinking the bill was actually about the use of flags, but Wilberforce finally won. Much to the delight of his priest friend/song-writing-former-repentant-slave-ship captain, John Newton, who penned the classic "Amazing Grace" (for which the movie is named).
Although the film is at times hard to watch, it never loses the message of hope and change no matter what the cost. William Wilberforce was sick for the better part of his life (with what is now known as Crohn's disease), and yet he managed to influence the minds of the British public to abolish the slave trade. However difficult to view, the movie is important and expertly portrayed. In the end, it is a celebration of the human spirit.
Tracy Elledge
Amazing Grace
At the close of the 1800s, William Wilberforce is still crusading against slavery, but is so ill, he must take refuge with his cousin in Bath, Somerset with his cousin. His cousin's wife is under the impression that a wife would clear the worst of William's problems.
Flash back to younger days, when William's best friend William Pitt, who later becomes Prime Minister, and the highly political and anti-slavery Hannah More, Thomas Clarkson and Olaudah Equiano, convince Wilberforce to push his opinion in Parliament as a Member of the House of Commons. His anti-slavery bill is opposed again and again, and most members of Parliament are expected to vote against it each time around, despite the passionate pleas of Wilberforce.
Flash back to the "present," where William is telling his story of failure to the equally passionate, and slave-opposed Barbara Spooner. Since the coupling was encouraged by his cousin and his cousin's wife, Wilberforce allows Barbara to hear his successes and failures. After that special night together, the two decide to marry (much to the elation of William's friends and supporters).
After years of toiling against slavery, and years of being voted down, Wilberforce's love for Barbara, and the return of his attorney, give him the idea and drive he needs to push abolition through Parliament. Of course, members of Parliament were tricked into thinking the bill was actually about the use of flags, but Wilberforce finally won. Much to the delight of his priest friend/song-writing-former-repentant-slave-ship captain, John Newton, who penned the classic "Amazing Grace" (for which the movie is named).
Although the film is at times hard to watch, it never loses the message of hope and change no matter what the cost. William Wilberforce was sick for the better part of his life (with what is now known as Crohn's disease), and yet he managed to influence the minds of the British public to abolish the slave trade. However difficult to view, the movie is important and expertly portrayed. In the end, it is a celebration of the human spirit.
