Amistad
(1997)
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Based on actual events in 1838, AMISTAD is the story of captured African slaves who took over their transport ship in a bloody revolt with the hopes of returning back to their homeland. After the slaves are caught and imprisoned, their leader, Cinque (Djimon Hounsou), unable to understand the language or court system of America, tries to communicate his desire to return home to his defense lawyer, Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey), and former slave Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman). The men plead for help with their groundbreaking court case from former president John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins). Steven Spielberg directed this moving film, using as a reference the book by William A. Owens, BLACK MUTINY: THE REVOLT ON THE SCHOONER AMISTAD. The Africans in the movie speak Mende, with subtitles added. West African actor Djimon Hounsou had to learn to speak the language for his role--and was nominated for a Golden Globe. Spielberg shot the film at the State House in Providence, Rhode Island, the seaport in Mystic, Connecticut, and other New England locations. |
In 1839, a shipload of slaves heading for America overpower their captors, killing all but two crew members needed to navigate them back to Africa. Betrayed, intercepted and charged with murder, the slaves' only hope for justice lies with the Abolitionist movement and an inexperienced lawyer. In this lengthy courtroom drama, director Steven Spielberg fails to ignite the same moral outrage his Schindler's List poignantly evoked, despite an all-star cast, an amazing debut by Djimon Hounsou (playing the slaves' leader) and moments of pure visual poetry. Although flawed, this chilling portrayal of outright racism further reveals Spielberg's skill as an expert film-maker unafraid of tackling heavy political issues.
Halliwell's Film Guide
Earnest and dogged, well meaning but too often dramatically inert, this tells a true story from a white viewpoint, in which the slaves remain exotic accessories to the real conflict, which takes place in courtrooms.