Andrew & I went out to see the movie, Amazing Grace last night and really enjoyed it. Most of you would have heard the promotional material surrounding this film. It is about William Wilberforce – a Christian politician who fought against slavery and cruelty to animals. The RSPCA even sponsored an advance screening here!
It was refreshing to see the life of a Christian man being portrayed in a film with such an excellent cast and professional team. If anything, it whetted my appetite to read more about this man. Andrew felt the same way – wanting to know how much of the drama was true to his life. I suspect that most of it was. True stories often are more interesting than fiction!!
The movie didn’t hide the struggles Wilberforce had early on in his career between whether being a Christian meant he should resign from politics or not. In one scene, he is "humbly reminded" he can be religious and a political activist. I know that will be something to talk about when our children see the movie – God’s calling on your life where you are.
Some of the gruesome practices of slavery were discussed and thankfully, not shown. I felt tears coming to my eyes several times as I heard of the unbearable conditions suffered by so many thousands, millions of people. It was incredible to see the hardness of the ruling class at that time and yet, a humble reminder that in so many ways we can be indifferent today. God did lay a burden on the heart of Wilberforce, and though it was a lifelong struggle, he did see that mission through. I liked what the PM, William Pitt said at one stage (and I’m paraphrasing) – because we are young, we try to do the impossible, because we are young, no one` tells us it can’t be done. It was probably a dramatic inclusion but it captured a good point to think about with our boys – to use these years of youth & vigour profitably.
There was a short speech in Parliament at the end of the film. It had a fantastic point, even if the speech wasn’t actually made. Normally when we think of heroes, we think of men like Napoleon (he was winning at the time). The success of these men is measured in blood. Rarely do we think of the peaceful men who have changed the world and Wilberforce is one of them.
I wonder how many men/women who were not royalty, clergy or prime ministers are buried in Westminster Abbey? The fact that Wilberforce was in such company says much about the esteem in which he was held in his own day.
So was there anything we didn’t like?
I did wonder at the portrayal of John Newton. He came across as a man broken down and under the weight of his sins being a slave trader. I’m sure he was haunted by many aspects of that life, even after he became a Christian. Yet, when he wrote the song, Amazing Grace, he said ,"I once was blind and now I see". He wasn’t talking about being freed after he finally wrote down his confession about the slave trade. He was talking about the freedom that comes from God when you are saved by Him. It was a shame that they blurred the line on that one and made the abolition of slavery the biggest factor.
I did wonder at the portrayal of John Newton. He came across as a man broken down and under the weight of his sins being a slave trader. I’m sure he was haunted by many aspects of that life, even after he became a Christian. Yet, when he wrote the song, Amazing Grace, he said ,"I once was blind and now I see". He wasn’t talking about being freed after he finally wrote down his confession about the slave trade. He was talking about the freedom that comes from God when you are saved by Him. It was a shame that they blurred the line on that one and made the abolition of slavery the biggest factor.
Wilberforce’s wife also wore a dress which went down rather "low" at the front. Somehow I think that was out of character with a woman of her stature in those times.
Would I let these things stop my kids seeing the movie?
Absolutely not. We would discuss them together but I think we would do some reading about Wilberforce first. I actually bought a book about William Wilberforce at the start of this year.
We will look forward to reading that before the movie comes out on DVD later in the year. Even former English PM Tony Blair thinks it is a story worth knowing!
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