Amazing Grace

Martin · Jan 27, 2007

Amazing Grace is a new motion picture that is based on the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce. This movie is in a theator near you on 2/23/07.

From the website:

"You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say you did not know." This was William Wilberforce's conclusion to his three hour debate in the Houses of Parliament before Members of Parliament voted on his Abolition Bill in 1789.

William Wilberforce was born into the age of the Great British Empire, when the country's influence around the globe was at its most powerful. It was, however, an age when the rumblings of social discontent were emerging and a time when reformers faced an uphill struggle to be heard.

A good friend and staunch colleague of England's youngest ever Prime Minister, Pitt the Younger, Wilberforce was entrusted with the policy for the Abolition of Slavery. Torn between a life of spirituality and a career in politics, he was inspired to take his desire for the equality of all mankind into the House of Commons. Seeking the advice of John Newton, a former slave trader who turned to the Church in order to atone for his earlier life, Wilberforce became the rallying voice in Parliament for a fragmented group of like-minded people to fight for the cause and make the people of Britain, and ultimately the world, acknowledge the horror of the Slave Trade.

The sugar trade was at the heart of the British economy, and it depended entirely on slave labour. With the majority of MPs representing the sugar and slave trades opposing Wilberforce in the House of Commons, he faced a mammoth task in attempting to persuade them to abolish slavery. His prowess as an orator, coupled with his firm belief that abolition was his vocation, made Wilberforce a formidable opponent. Throughout his turbulent career, he was keenly supported and inspired by his wife Barbara's love and commitment to the cause.

Amazing Grace follows Wilberforce's career through his 20's and 30's, when he and his fellow humanitarians made the issue of slavery a talking point, not only in political circles, but also throughout the country. They waged the first modern political campaign, using petitions, boycotts, mass meetings and even badges with slogans to take their message to the country at large. Wilberforce steered this cause through the corridors of power and ultimately opened the way for the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire. His success came after decades of fighting when Parliament finally passed the first anti-slavery bill in 1807.
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Site Link

EdSutton · Jan 27, 2007

Interestingly enough, I'm going to be doing a small bit on William Wilberforce and John Newton tomorrow evening for "Men's Day" in our church, as commentary on the song, "Amazing Grace", provided I'm not taken home, or the 'Rapture of the church' occurs first.

Ed

DeeJay · Jan 27, 2007

Is this an LDS movie. I was under the impression it is. The name Waldon is a big Mormon name in the state..

http://www.sltrib.com/features/ci_5099991

LDS President Hinckley steals the show in rare night out at the movies

It isn't often that LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley gets to go to the movies, but there he was Thursday night, taking his reserved seat with an unobstructed view of the big screen.
The hushed crowd at the Gateway Theaters in Salt Lake City rose to their feet as the 96-year-old Mormon leader walked slowly in, but he laughed and said, "Sit down." He didn't seem to have grabbed the free popcorn and Coke products provided in the lobby, although many others did.
Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson, his counselor in the church's governing First Presidency, about half of the 12 apostles, their families, friends, filmmakers, entertainers and community leaders, filled the large theater for a free screening of "Amazing Grace."
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And then this

In Salt Lake City, who better to watch the film than the leader of 12 million Mormons?
"At the airport, I saw lots of young people returning from their mission trips," Walden's president Michael Flaherty told the crowd at Gateway. "It's a pleasure to be with so many people walking the walk."
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DeeJay · Jan 27, 2007

It does not look like Waldon Media is an LDS company. The owner is Evangelical Presbyterian acording to Wiki. The Utah paper made this sound like an LDS film.

The owner does have buisness ties in Utah.

Martin · Jan 27, 2007

DeeJay said:

Is this an LDS movie. I was under the impression it is. The name Waldon is a big Mormon name in the state.
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==Not sure that it matters. It is a history movie not a movie promoting a theological perspective.

Filmproducer · Jan 27, 2007

Saw the theatrical trailer last night before seeing Freedom Writers. Definitely looks like a must see. :thumbs:

DeeJay · Jan 27, 2007

Martin said:

==Not sure that it matters. It is a history movie not a movie promoting a theological perspective.
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It matters only in the fact that I would more closely examin it. They like to slip a little doctrine in under the radar.

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