Amazing Grace Review

Shiva Garshasbi

01-25-10

UNST Gospel According to Wall-E

Amazing Grace Review

So, this week we were given an assignment to watch Michael Apted’s movie, “Amazing Grace”. This movie is just as its title indicates: amazing. Michael Apted also directed one of my favorites movies: “Enough” with Jennifer Lopez, and to my extreme, super excitement, he is also directing the upcoming film: “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”. I believe one reason as to why I exceptionally enjoy this movie is because it takes place in the 18^th century. I guess I have a soft spot for movies that take place in older times.

This movie is about a man named William Wilberforce (played by Ioan Gruffudd) who is greatly opposed to the slave trade in England and fights for most of his life to abolish it, even though it causes his heart great stress which makes him sick. Wilberforce’s mentor, John Newton, was once a slave ship captain who repented for his sins and turned into a priest. The title of the movie comes from the name of the song John Newton had composed in reminiscence of the mistakes he had made in his life while a captain of a slave ship.

This movie is based on a biography, but does not fall solely under this category. In order to make the movie more interesting, the story of Wilberforce’s romance is highlighted. Throughout the movie, his will to fight for the abolition of slavery does wane from time to time. But he finds confidence in his soul mate Barbara Spoone, who he constantly confides in and shares the story of his constant struggle. This relationship gives the movie the ability to also fall under the category of romance.

In the beginning of the movie, there is a character named Olaudah Equiano, who is a freed slave who published his life story into a book. He gives his gruesome accounts to Willberforce, and also provides him with a reason to continue his fight. The horrid statistics and facts in this movie are extremely difficult to imagine. How could people treat another human being in such a way? What gave anyone the right to treat other beings worse than animals? It astonishes me that there was a point in time when human lives were treated as worthless objects. Even more so the fact that segregation between black and white people was abolished nearly 50 years ago. And even so, there are still, to this day, places in the South, where high school student just as old as we are, are still accustomed to have segregated proms, banquets, and dances.

Everyday, we are given a choice to do what’s right. And because we live in such a free country we can. So what’s stopping us? Unlike those who lived in England, under a monarchy, if you ever crossed a line and spoke your mind a little too freely, it would’ve been considered treason which would’ve been a violently punishable crime. God gave us a free will to use it to do what’s right and stand up for what we believe in. Just like William Wilberforce in this movie, we shouldn’t back down from our beliefs despite failure. Wilberforce was constantly shot down in parliament, and his bills were constantly rejected. It took him over 5 years to finally get his bill passed and to abolish slavery in England.

Every day, we are given tasks that test our resilience as Christians. This movie was definitely an inspiration and a lesson for us all. It just goes to show that, God doesn’t test us with anything we can’t handle. It might be a struggle at first, but the outcome is worth everything.