I agree that it's shameful that someone responded to this student's post helpfully. No time to watch the movie? Who's he trying to kid? Dolt, indeed.
But your second point is completely erroneous. This film was indeed about a very religious man, which was clearly demonstrated. And, I hate to break it to you, but the abolitionist movements in both Great Britain and the US were largely spearheaded by evangelical Christians and Quakers, who were considered the fundamentalists of their time. The profiteers and perpetrators of the slave trade, however, were the of the ilk that had started to embrace a more distant notion of God over the previous years, and thought the ultra-devout abolitionists, who took Christian doctrine seriously, were uptight bible-beaters.
FYI, I am not Christian by any means. I do, however, appreciate historical accuracy, and what you just stated is the exact opposite of the true state of affairs during that era, and Amazing Grace contradicts you as well as historical record. All you have to do is read up a little on that time, read the literature of it, and you'll realize that.
In fact, there are some who don't think the film did enough to portray Wilberforce accurately enough in terms of his religious motivation. Check out this reviewer's opinion: http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110009704.
Which I disagree with, by the way, though the reviewer, Ms. Allen, provides quite a bit of valuable historical information. This film in no way gave me the impression that Wilberforce was secular at all. But, maybe she has a point... it gave you that impression.
It's a false one, however.
You get in my corner, you're going to get pummeled. - M. Night Shyamalan
That's okay. I'm scrappy. - E.A Pierce
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lips_are_important
15 years ago
Well .... it's been quite a while since this student had to turn in his or her paper, (p.s. who amongst you can claim to never have taken a shortcut with a school assignment!? Relax, people. ) but this is a pretty interesting discussion nonetheless. I've taken a few comparative religion courses and I'm intrigued by the questions this professor asked. Namely, #4, "What did William's accomplishments reveal to us about God?" - who could possibly answer this question? In what context is this question being posed? Is the subject of the question, God as viewed from Wilburforce, in the movie, or the notion of "God", in the greater context? These are two completely different questions, and I'd expect more from a religion professor - unless of course, he or she is teaching from a purely religious perspective (which is what it sounds like) and not an objective one.
Also, question #4 and #11 seem to answer each other, as it is John Newton's revelation ("I was blind, but now I see") that is the revelation most explored in this film. I don't recall a depiction of any revelation of Wilburforce's in this movie .... I guess it can be argued that his decision to enter politics instead of the clergy was a "revelation" of sorts, but John Newton's is far more profound in a spiritual and especially, moral sense, as well as being a kind of moral anchor for the film.
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chelseadinsmore
15 years ago
EAPierce, just wanted to say thanks for adding the interesting review to the discussion.
I certainly didn't come away from the movie feeling as though Wilberforce was in any way a secular man and I actually agree with the director's decision to play down the religious element to an extent. As a result Amazing Grace can be watched as an interesting study of politics in the period, which I find fascinating, as well as seen as a story of Christianity. He does avoid the "preachy" nature that some movies with Christian characters can take on.
That said, the reviewer is absolutely right when they argue that Wilberforce was far more religious than the movie lets on. He was very much an evangelical Christian. However, although he certainly followed religion and did hope his friends would gravitate towards it, he remained close to his friend William Pitt, who was not a religious man.
The movie Amazing Grace is ultimately based on a true story and it takes certain liberties with the historical realities. In some movies too many liberties are taken or the changes don't work. In Amazing Grace I feel that they do.
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