Amazing Grace

So, I've been watching Amazing Grace and feeling rather guilty about how much I'm enjoying it.

I know it's a bit of a Mighty Whitey film, in which the poor African slaves get to stand around and look abused until William Wilberforce can rescue them. I know it sadly fails to mention slave uprisings, or the extent to which the Black Africans of the diaspora did actively seek their own freedom and rescue. I know there's also something slightly random about Wilbur being quite so very sainted whilst not really noticing the servants around him, and cheerfully ignoring his own position as a member of the privileged classes, but I still really enjoyed it.

First of all, for all his faults, I do think Wilberforce did something amazing. He could have lived a much more comfortable life had he not adopted the cause of Abolitionism, and in the context of the society he was living in, that choice was a strong one. Maybe it's not an amazing thing - he never wore chains himself, he never had to worry about being hungry - but it was a strong choice and I think it makes him a very interesting man and one that I wanted to find out more about.

Secondly, I think the British Abolitionists did accomplish something and it's a good thing to remember.

Thirdly, whilst it is a fairly fluffy costume drama style look at the slave trade (which is one of the great horrors of history, in my opinion) I actually like it for the contrast it provides to every other film set in the 18th century. For example, Pride and Prejudice (in all its many cinematic incarnations), is set in this time period and yet there is no mention of the darker underbelly of English society, or what the society that the Bennett girls are living within is built upon. I liked the fact that this film takes all the common and recognisable visuals of the English costume drama - the big dresses, the wigs, the carriages, and then reminds us what this society is actually based upon. It is, in my mind, a traditional English costume drama, with a bit of a social conscience. And that's not a great thing, but it's still something I find interesting to watch.

And finally, it's a good film. Ioan Gruffudd is fabulous as William Wilberforce - he does determined, driven and tormented like no one else. I really liked the love story - Barbara is a much better character than most 18th century female characters - and I am a sucker for stories of redemption, which the John Newton character followed beautifully.

It may have its faults, as a film, and I suspect that many people on my friends list would loathe it as much for the fairly blatant Christianity running through the film, or the earnestness of its message, far more than its failings in its own good intentions, but it appears I have quite a high tolerance for inspirational films on occasion. Especially if they come with corsetry.

And don't tell me that the film isn't entirely historically accurate. I do know that. But I think it made a good effort to capture the spirit of the story nonetheless.

Amazing Grace

So, I've been watching Amazing Grace and feeling rather guilty about how much I'm enjoying it.

I know it's a bit of a Mighty Whitey film, in which the poor African slaves get to stand around and look abused until William Wilberforce can rescue them. I know it sadly fails to mention slave uprisings, or the extent to which the Black Africans of the diaspora did actively seek their own freedom and rescue. I know there's also something slightly random about Wilbur being quite so very sainted whilst not really noticing the servants around him, and cheerfully ignoring his own position as a member of the privileged classes, but I still really enjoyed it.

First of all, for all his faults, I do think Wilberforce did something amazing. He could have lived a much more comfortable life had he not adopted the cause of Abolitionism, and in the context of the society he was living in, that choice was a strong one. Maybe it's not an amazing thing - he never wore chains himself, he never had to worry about being hungry - but it was a strong choice and I think it makes him a very interesting man and one that I wanted to find out more about.

Secondly, I think the British Abolitionists did accomplish something and it's a good thing to remember.

Thirdly, whilst it is a fairly fluffy costume drama style look at the slave trade (which is one of the great horrors of history, in my opinion) I actually like it for the contrast it provides to every other film set in the 18th century. For example, Pride and Prejudice (in all its many cinematic incarnations), is set in this time period and yet there is no mention of the darker underbelly of English society, or what the society that the Bennett girls are living within is built upon. I liked the fact that this film takes all the common and recognisable visuals of the English costume drama - the big dresses, the wigs, the carriages, and then reminds us what this society is actually based upon. It is, in my mind, a traditional English costume drama, with a bit of a social conscience. And that's not a great thing, but it's still something I find interesting to watch.

And finally, it's a good film. Ioan Gruffudd is fabulous as William Wilberforce - he does determined, driven and tormented like no one else. I really liked the love story - Barbara is a much better character than most 18th century female characters - and I am a sucker for stories of redemption, which the John Newton character followed beautifully.

It may have its faults, as a film, and I suspect that many people on my friends list would loathe it as much for the fairly blatant Christianity running through the film, or the earnestness of its message, far more than its failings in its own good intentions, but it appears I have quite a high tolerance for inspirational films on occasion. Especially if they come with corsetry.

And don't tell me that the film isn't entirely historically accurate. I do know that. But I think it made a good effort to capture the spirit of the story nonetheless.