Lord Taylor of Warwick

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I was not sure what to expect with the recent release of the film Amazing Grace. Would it be another well-intentioned, but badly executed Christian themed film? Or a dull story about politics and history? To my delight, it was neither. Rather, Amazing Grace delivered a story of poignancy and heart. The story revolves around William Wilberforce, a young and impassioned MP from Yorkshire. William desires to accomplish two things in his life: to successfully abolish slavery, and to leave the world a better place. It seems simple enough, but the film shows Wilberforce’s colossal resolve to fight across the years.

Wilberforce’s friend asks him, “Do you doubt we can change things?” He replies, “I would change myself first.” This rings a bell with the similar statement by another great leader, Mahatma Ghandi, who said, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” In my mind, the greatest scenes of the film were those that take place between Wilberforce and his priest John Newton. Newton is an ex-slave trader who claims he lives in the presence of 20,000 slave ghosts. It was Newton who wrote the song from which the film takes its name. He tells Wilberforce, “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly. I'm a great sinner and Christ is a great Saviour.” This sense of righteousness is what makes the film so different. By no means does Wilberforce fight slavery for his own glory. He loses his closest friendship and the respect of fellow peers because of his fight. It is his ability to carry on after repeated failures that makes this story stirring. It even made me question myself: Would I fight as hard? For a film connected with something as violent as slavery, the film does not have an overwhelming amount of graphic content. There is one sequence which shows slave children dying in the flames of a sugar refinery. While the scene was disturbing, it certainly could have been much worse. I do not think that more graphic violence would make this film better. However, more time could have been spent on showing the experiences of slaves rather than focusing on the events in England. Ioan Gruffudd’s portrayal of Wilberforce carried the film. He allowed for the character to be passionate without becoming melodramatic. Albert Finney also did an excellent job as the stubborn but admirable John Newton. Very few modern films inspire and entertain. Very few are bold enough to approach pertinent issues. Amazing Grace is not just a good film. It is an important film.

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