Amazing Grace (film)

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Movie
German title Amazing Grace
Alternative Title:
The Man Who Changed the World
Original title Amazing grace
Country of production USA , UK
original language English
Publishing year 2006
length 111 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Michael Apted
script Steven Knight
production Terrence Malick ,
Jeanney Kim
music David Arnold
camera Remi Adefarasin
cut Rick Shaine
occupation

Amazing Grace (alternative German film title: The man who changed the world ) is a feature film by Michael Apted from 2006. Amazing Grace refers to the poem of the same name by the former slave trader John Newton . The film celebrated its world premiere on September 16, 2006 at the Toronto Film Festival . The film opened in the United States on February 23, 2007, and in Germany on September 20, 2011.

action

The film shows the real story of the young Christian abolitionist William Wilberforce , who was elected to the lower house of the British Parliament at the end of the 18th century . There he campaigns for the abolition of the slave trade in the UK. He receives support from John Newton and William Pitt .

The film opens with a seriously ill Wilberforce, located in Bath ( Somerset recovered) from his illness. With him is his cousin Henry Thornton. Here he is introduced to his future wife Barbara Spooner. Although he was initially reluctant, she managed to elicit his previous life story from William.

The plot then jumps to the year 1782. From there on, William relates the events that have brought him into his current situation. He is an ambitious and popular MP when he is persuaded by friends William Pitt, Thomas Clarkson , Hannah More, and others to pursue the dangerous task of abolishing the slave trade. As a result, he makes himself unpopular in the House of Commons with the MPs of the cities of London, Bristol and Liverpool, who earn very well from the slave trade, and initially succumbs to his concerns several times.

Burned out and frustrated that he couldn't change anything in Parliament, William fell ill with colitis . After this narration, the plot has returned to the starting point. Since he has given up hope of being able to change anything in the slave trade, he is considering withdrawing completely from politics. Barbara convinces him to keep fighting, because if he doesn't, no one else will be able to do it. A few days later William and Barbara get married; with renewed courage and hope for success, he resumes the fight, supported by Thornton, Clarkson and James Stephen. After 20 years and many attempts, he succeeded in February 1807 in getting the Slave Trade Act passed, which bans the slave trade in the British Empire .

Reviews

Amazing Grace received mostly positive reviews. The director of the World Evangelical Alliance , Geoff Tunnicliffe , described the film as "a powerful story that shows how a believer can change the cultural and social environment of an entire country".

Awards

The film won an award at the Heartland Film Festival in 2007 and was nominated for Best Costume Design at the 2007 Satellite Awards .

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