Amazing Grace...

[fajrdrako]

I went tonight to see Amazing Grace, a biographical movie about William Wilberforce, played by Ioan Gruffudd. I went with auriaephiala, and a friend of commodorified I hadn't met before, audrawilliams. When the movie ended, two women sitting further long in our row at the theatre came over to us and said, "You certainly seemed to be having a good time - we really enjoyed the way you were laughing." You wouldn't expect a movie about slavery to be funny, and it certainly wasn't a comedy, but it was witty and clever and there were many funny moments. Was Wilberforce really as amusing and skilled a speaker as the movie portrayed? I'm glad we weren't disturbing the women - we had a chat about how wonderful Ioan Gruffudd was as Horatio Hornblower.

He was quite wonderful in this, too. He managed to make a devoutly and devotedly Christian character seem attractive to me. Well done, Ioan, and hats off to the scriptwriter for that too. Steven Knight.

I happen to love biographies of people in the 18th century, though I haven't read many of them, and sometimes it was a mental scramble to remember what (if anything) I knew of these men and what their names were and who was who. I knew William Wilberforce was a British politican largely responsible for the abolition of slavery. I knew much more about Pitt, and relatively little about the rest.

It was a thrill to see Rufus Sewell playing a role that wasn't villainous - he was the principled radical Thomas Clarkson. I loved several of the characters: Pitt the Younger was played by Benedict Cumberbatch, and looked as if he'd stepped out of the history books. Albert Finney was stunning as John Newton, a guilt-driven former captain of a slave ship and author of the hymn "Amazing Grace". Michael Gambon was amazing as Lord Charles Fox. Ciaran Hinds really didn't have much to do as the despicable Lord Tarleton, but he had some wonderful moments. Youssou N'Dour played a fascination historical character I don't remember having heard about before, Olaudah Equiano. My knowledge of the 18th century is spotty and my knowledge of the slave trade practically nil.

I found myself with various questions - Pitt's age at his death (he was 46), whether his friends really called him "Billy", and what the actual details were of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which was essentially the crowning achievement of Wilberforce's life.

It was a lovely glimpse too of the various political stripes of the 18th century - the republicans and socialists (if I may be allowed an anachronistic word), the radicals, the idealists, the conservatives (and the Conservatives), the religious and the idealists, the aristocrats and the politicians and the servants. One of the most endearing characters was Wilberforce's butler, Richard, with whom he had a warm friendship.

Comments

[cyberducks.livejournal.com]

Oh, you really making me want to see this now - so this is not a typical sanctimonious Christian type movie?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No, it really manages not to be sanctimonious at all, though there were some moments I would have been happier without - but they were (as far as I could tell) being historically accurate, and that's the really important factor.

I didn't understand the connection between the hymn "Amazing Grace" and the movie at first; but the hymn was written by the man who used to be a slave-captain, John Newton, and was closely connected to the anti-slave movement. There's an article about it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Newton.

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

*psst* audrawilliams

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I am not going to see it. I think it's far too simplistic. I'd like to have seen it bring out the hypocrisy of people who could argue against slavery, yet support legislation banning trades unions, & c.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

It's part funded by American Evangelicals.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Who would, of course, like Wilberforce and Newton. I was surprised at the tone, which was less... sanctimonious... on religious matters than I expected it to be. It is sanctimonious on the matter of slavery and abolition, of course.

[tavella.livejournal.com]

Thomas Clarkson! He's a pretty interesting character in his own right, even though less famous than Wilberforce. I love how he came to be so dedicated to the cause, it's this fascinating collision of logic and religious belief.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Clarkson's brother John was the guy who led some of the Black Loyalists from Nova Scotia to Sierra Leone. See Simon Schama's Rough Crossings – excellent book on the Black Loyalists and Abolition.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Noted on my 'to read' list.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I would have had different reactions to him if he hadn't been played by Rufus Sewell.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

He looks quite plump and pink in the portrait on Wikipedia.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

We've been umming and ah-ing about going to see this - I think we definitely will now. There's been lots on the TV and radio lately about William Wilberforce. I don't know if you can get the BBC Radio 4 show "In Our Time" (which is a kind of intellectual discussion programme) but they recently devoted a whole show to him, which really brought the period to life.

I love this period of history - Pitt the Younger is fascinating. One of our opposition politicians, William Hague, is an expert on him. His book (William Pitt the Younger) is probably worth reading if you're interested - he's a very lively writer and has a real passion for the subject. Similarly Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman is a wonderful look at the period.

All that and Ioan Gruffudd? I'm off to get my tickets...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

All that and Ioan Gruffudd?

Well, not the Duchess of Devonshire. Not many women at all in this one. But yes, I'd like to read Hague's book on Pitt, and I'm happy to see that my local library carries it.

[audrawilliams.livejournal.com]

It was very nice to meet you! Sorry I got all quiet afterwards. I was just thinking! Also when people are talking about things I don't know anything about, I just listen.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It was very nice to meet you!

Mutual. It was a good evening.

Sorry I got all quiet afterwards. I was just thinking!

So was I. It was the kind of movie that makes you feel thoughtful.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Sadly, it takes a number of liberties. (I grew up in Hull, which has the Wilberforce House Museum. Big local celeb.) I think, most seriously, it fails to grapple with the ambiguities of the situation: how could people who opposed repression and exploitation in the colonial slave trade turn a blind eye to it – indeed, actively support it – at home?

a) William Wilberforce was extremely tiny (under 5' 4") and thin (I've seen his clothes). He was not in good health for much of his life, and like most semi-invalids of the era, ran on laudanum. He was a Tory, and although he was on the right side in the slavery issue, he was strongly opposed to the rights of working people in Britain, and supported the repressive measures brought in by Pitt in the 1790s, because of the French Revolution. He was rather sanctimonious in reality. His opposition to slavery was partly grounded in his belief that it was a sin for which Britain would be punished by God.

b) This is in contrast to Ban Tarleton, who was never a peer (how the hell can they have him arguing with Wilberforce in the Commons if they're calling him Lord?! Unless you resign your peerage, you cannot be a Lord and sit in the Commons! That's what there's a House of Lords for!), only a baronet later in life. He was a radical Whig at this time (he later turned Tory during the Napoleonic Wars), and a close friend and ally of Fox despite their differences over slavery. While he opposed abolition (as MP for Liverpool, he'd never have been re-elected if he'd opposed it!), he also opposed the Combinations Acts and other repressive measures against the working classes in Britain. (He even cut his hair à la Jacobin, which was very significant in the 1790s!) Physically, although he, too, was on the small side, he looked rather more like Ioan Gruffydd in features, but auburn haired. (In fact, Marg and I had Ioan down for dream-casting as Ban! See her site on him (http://www.banastretarleton.org)! - I recommend getting in touch with her: she's a wonderfully historical/sf&fantasy fannish person based in Kitchener, ON)

The film has received a fair bit of criticism over here for over-emphasising Wilberforce at the expense of the wider Abolitionist movement; also for just using Equiano as the 'token' Black character.

essentially the crowning achievement of Wilberforce's life.

No: that was the abolition of slavery itself in 1833, which he didn't quite live to see. Ironically, it partly came about through the Parliamentary Reform Act of 1832, which vastly extended the franchise among the middle class: something which he, as a staunch Tory, had opposed.

There were no socialists in 18C. It's a 19C development. You had Jacobin sympathisers in 1790s, which were a different matter. And Wilberforce was definitely opposed to them.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

it takes a number of liberties.

I would certainly believe that!

William Wilberforce was extremely tiny (under 5' 4") and thin

You mean he didn't look like Ioan Gruffudd? Pity. Next you'll tell me his wife wasn't pretty.


He was not in good health for much of his life, and like most semi-invalids of the era, ran on laudanum.

There's a lot in the movie about laudanum and his taking of it.

He was a Tory, and although he was on the right side in the slavery issue, he was strongly opposed to the rights of working people in Britain, and supported the repressive measures brought in by Pitt in the 1790s, because of the French Revolution.

The movie hints at that without going into details - at one point he breaks with Clarkson, who is also concerned about workers' right.

His opposition to slavery was partly grounded in his belief that it was a sin for which Britain would be punished by God.

Again, that's there, but they play it down.

No: that was the abolition of slavery itself in 1833, which he didn't quite live to see.

A shame.

there were were no socialists in 18C. It's a 19C development.

Yes, I know. Didn't I just confess to anachronism? I was being... jocular, because of the tone of the movie. Wilberforce's opposition to Jacobins is also made clear, again, without going into the politics and details of the matter.

So: it's all oversimplified, certainly, but they did much better on the whole than I would have expected.

[lalouve.livejournal.com]

Olaudah Equiano wrote an autobiography of his life as a slave, first in Africa and then in America. Warmly recommended reading.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes - he plays a significant role in the movie. I was impressed.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

He's a far more intriguing character; I think a movie about him would have been more interesting.

[lalouve.livejournal.com]

Being Swedish, I am of course fascinated by his use of Gustavus Vassa for a name. I teach parts of his autobiography in American lit.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd go to see it, for sure.

[chazzbanner.livejournal.com]

I was amused to find that Wilbeforce and Pitt were roommates at Cambridge.

Single movie about historical events always involve simplification, and most likely a focus on one or two people instead of a whole range of them. Can't help it Long documentary series, on the other hand, havve more time, and a different .. artistic agenda, so to speak.

The Clapham Sect was nicely portrayed, I think -- Hannah More etc. It was definitely shown it was a large movement with a lot of 'foot soldirs' gathering information, lecturing, doing petition drives.

I would guess the people funding the movie are pretty mainstream rather than the Protestant equivalent of Mel Gibson's father.. if you know what I mean.

Yeah I noticed that Tarleton was portrayed as a Lord, but on the other hand, he did sit for Liverapool and argue the pro-slavery side.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I was amused to find that Wilbeforce and Pitt were roommates at Cambridge.

Another case of interesting people being at the right place and the right time.

I would guess the people funding the movie are pretty mainstream rather than the Protestant equivalent of Mel Gibson's father.. if you know what I mean.

They may just have better judgement.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

But you can't have a character called "Lord" anything in the House of Commons. It's plain wrong.

Wilberforce represented Hull, which had no economic stake in the slave-trade at all (a merchant port, primarily for Baltic and N European trade, and also was a fishing port), so he could oppose it without any risk to his own career. It would have been political suicide for anyone representing Liverpool at this time to take an Abolitionist stance, because the economy of the city was heavily dependent on the Atlantic trade, including slaving. At this time, of course (pre-1832), the electorate was very small, based on the amount of property owned, so the merchant class had a disproportionate political influence.