Amazing Grace

I saw the movie Amazing Grace this past weekend. I have been wanting to see it for quite sometime and it was everything I expected--very moving, inspirational and historic--and I really enjoyed it. If you haven't seen it, it is about the fight to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain. It tells the mostly true story of several good men (and one woman) who spend many years, much money, and a great deal of at least the main character's health in this noble cause. It also tells the story of the repentant slaver who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace." That actually was my favorite part. I will never listen to the words of that beautiful hymn in quite the same way again.

However much I liked the film, there was a new element in my viewing. It was interesting to see that my recent education has, to quote one of Jeana's students, "ruined" movies for me. I didn't just love this great story; I also could see that it wasn't the most well-made movie. It's flashbacks and forward were confusing--I couldn't keep track of which was which and I have no real idea of how long the fight took, though I think about 20 years. It was a decent telling of a beautiful story, but it just wasn't really art. I am still enough of a novice in this field that I can't tell you any more about what was wrong with it, but I could feel that it was missing something.

That said, it still was good for all the reasons I already mentioned and if you haven't seen it I heartily recommend it. I may purchase it to use one scene in class. The story is contemporary with our own Revolution & writing of the Constitution. There is a moment in Parliament where several speakers are openly disdainful of the idea of petitions and rule of the people rather than by the "rightful rulers." I think this scene would go far in helping to illustrate how really revolutionary our new form of government was.

P.S. Notice how I got some images into this post! Whoopee! There is hope for me, yet. Now can someone help me figure out how to move them around? My usual "format to move" doesn't seem to work.