There’s a picture out now that we should all see. It’s titled Amazing Grace, but it might be equally well titled Amazing Wilberforce. Many were involved in the abolition of slavery in Britain in the early 1800s, but William Wilberforce, more than anyone, led the charge. As the movie shows, he was truly an amazing individual, and it seems clear that the abolition of slavery in the British Empire laid some of the moral groundwork for its abolition in America.
Many of us know the story of John Newton, who as a child memorized Bible verses and hymns at his mother’s knee. As a young man falling deeper and deeper into sin, however, he joined the British navy, deserted, was captured and flogged, and became a captain of ships, some of which carried slaves from Africa. On the night of March 9, 1748, a fierce storm threatened to doom his ship. On the next day, Newton turned to the Lord, later saying, “The Lord came from on high and delivered me out of deep waters.” Newton eventually became a great evangelist, preacher, and foe of slavery. He wrote hundreds of hymns, including the one so familiar to us today.
Among other things, Newton was the friend and mentor of Wilberforce. The film opens at the close of the 18th century, when Wilberforce is agonizing as to whether he should lead a private life of spiritual contemplation or a public one as a member of Parliament. He meets a number of anti-slavery activists who tell Wilberforce he can do both. Finally recognizing that God honors public efforts on His behalf, Wilberforce throws himself totally into the cause of abolition. He is aided by his friend William Pitt, who becomes prime minister at age 24; by Lord Charles Fox, an elderly MP who switches sides and supports Wilberforce; and by other reformers. The picture then shows in agonizing detail the excruciatingly difficult, seemingly hopeless task of persuading Parliament to end slavery. Wilberforce and his supporters fail again and again, and Wilberforce himself suffers illness and great discouragement. In the end, though, he prevails.
The film is acted mostly by relatively unknown actors who give excellent performances: Ioan Gruffudd plays Wilberforce and Romola Garai the role of Barbara Spooner, the woman Wilberforce eventually marries. The only well-known actors are Michael Gambon, who masterfully plays the role of Lord Charles Fox; and Albert Finney, who is a standout as Newton. In one of the movie’s most touching scenes, the now-blind Newton tells Wilberforce he not only can succeed in his quest, but he must. Newton’s statements ironically recall the lines of the song: “I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.”
I have only one quibble: one would expect somewhat more focus on Newton. A short dramatization of the storm scene would have sufficed, or even a retelling of it. Nonetheless, Amazing Grace is powerful and very much worth seeing. Above all, it shows that we must persevere in our work for the Lord, no matter how daunting or hopeless the quest may seem.
Film rating: PG-13
My Rating: 3 ¼ stars
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