AMAZING GRACE, THE MOVIE

AMAZING GRACE

Most of you folk know I am not a fan of “commercial movies”. They are seldom worthwhile because of unappealing content, lack of significance, or other factors that deserve cautionary ratings.

I have, however, found over the years a few movies that are interesting, meaningful, instructive, intriguing, or otherwise worth the viewing experience. I am not in the habit of listing these so I can’t recall the titles easily, but I just saw an excellent motion picture worth recommending to adults (10+) and good enough indeed to remember.

“Amazing Grace” is an English film portraying the struggle of William Wilberforce and his friend William Pitt, who became Prime Minister, to pass legislation in England’s Parliament to abolish slavery and British participation in the worldwide slave trade. John Newton, the former slave trader who later in life repented of trafficking in African slaves, was the composer of the hymn “Amazing Grace”, possibly the most famous and best recognized song in all history. He is portrayed in the movie in his last years when he assists the abolition effort by writing his personal memoirs.

Without doubt, you will be touched by the presentation of this heroic endeavor which has received little attention before. I was deeply moved at the account of men in pursuit of such a righteous goal and the enormous national opposition they had to overcome.

It took his entire career of forty-six years, but just 200 years ago on March 25th, 1807, the slavery trade was abolished, and in 1833 slavery itself ended in England, thanks to William Wilberforce and a host of others.

It was worth the struggle indeed! Enjoy the movie.