Amistad is the true story of an 1839 slave ship mutiny. This seems like as good a time as any other to read amistad, the novelization of the 1997 spielberg film now played in high school history classes the world over including in my grade 12 history class. Amistad is a 1997 american historical drama film directed by steven spielberg, based on the. One missionary was james steele, an oberlin graduate, previously one of the lane rebels. The problem with amistad is that it takes a terrific aspect of history, and over bloats it into a romanticized version of the facts. After two months on a ragged course up the eastern seaboard, the amistad is captured by. The movie travels through the events with vivid and powerful emotion. They are then held prisoner in connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. The opening scene, showing the slave revolt on board the amistad, is very violent, with blood and death from swords, axes, and muskets. Am i supposed to understand anything theyre saying. Amistad spanish for friendship is a 1997 drama directed by steven spielberg. Slavery could, i suppose, be seen largely as a matter of laws and propertyat least to those benefitting from it.
The argument on behalf of the amistad africans and the decision of the court focused on the legality of the slave trade on the high seas rather than, as shown in the movie, the captives. Most significant is the making of amistad, a documentary about the film. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Historian eric foner, dewitt clinton professor of history at columbia university, examines the issues surrounding the historical film amistad. A young english boy struggles to survive under japanese occupation during world war ii. If you have seen this movie, this soundtrack will move you. In 1839, the slave ship amistad set sail from cuba to america. The slaves, even though they could not speak english, undoubtedly demonstrated their intense longing for freedom in spielbergs version of the historical event. Western movie full length cowboy holiday starring big boy williams complete by wild west toys. The argument on behalf of the amistad africans and the decision of the court focused on the legality of the slave trade on the high seas rather than, as shown in the movie, the captives inalienable right to freedom. The film version of the argument before the supreme court misrepresents the real issues which were presented to the court and on which it made its decision.
Spielberg does a great job in recreating the amistad revolt that spurred a series of trials beginning in the lower courts of connecticut and ultimately. Amistad is a very well crafted, well acted, and well told story. Under western stars full length western movie starring roy rogers uncut version by cheryl rogers barnetts western stars theater. One of the astonishing facts revealed in steven spielbergs amistad is that seven of the nine u. His new film centers on the legal status of africans who rise up against their captors on the high seas and are. Amistad is worth seeing for the stormy scenes on board the slave boat, and for djimon hounsous magnetic performance. Supreme court justices in 1839 were slaveowning southerners. Amistad is the name of a slave ship traveling from cuba to the u.
The amistad committee instructed the africans in english and christianity, and raised funds to pay for their return home. In any case, the dolby digital edition provided a good but unspectacular audio track. Amistad is a wonderful and brilliant film by steven spielberg, but it still has some major historical inaccuracies. Amistad is the powerfully reimagined history of one of the countrys first battles for civil rights.
It is important to note that the amistad case was a. I am not usually one to put down a film because of the inaccuracies, but since. Amistad 48 movie clip the verdict 1997 hd duration. Debbie allen, laurie macdonald, paul deason, david franzoni. In 1839 fiftythree enslaved africans, led by a mende rice farmer named singbepieh, staged a bloody rebellion on board the amistad, a spanish slaver from cuba. But there are some moments when it must be taken amistad is about a 1839 mutiny on board a slave ship that is traveling towards the northeast coast of america. The 40 rebels are threatening the death penalty in a country whose official policy still supports slavery. In the holly wood version of the amistad the difference between that and the. Add to watchlist one of the classic stephen spielbergs film is the 1997 film amistad. Thousands of people have enjoyed his books or the full visual parables journal. Amistad is about a 1839 mutiny on board a slave ship that is traveling towards the northeast coast of america. Get an answer for a detailed summary of the film amistad.
Is that on purpose or am i supposed to have subtitles. Much of the story involves a courtroom drama about the slave who led the revolt. Brief moments of visceral fire allow glimpses into the rousing movie this could have been. Yearning to watch amistad on your tv, phone, or tablet. Amistad soundtrack 01 dry your tears, afrika youtube. Tracking down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the steven spielbergdirected movie via subscription can be a challenge.
The opening scene, showing the slave revolt on board the amistad, is very violent, with. Amistad film, a 1997 steven spielberg movie based on the events of the book amistad publishing, an imprint of harper collins publishing mutiny on the amistad. Im like 15 minutes into the movie and no english is spoken. In 1841 he joined the amistad mission to mendhi, which returned freed slaves to africa and worked to establish a mission there. Western movies full length in english hidden valley bob steele by wild west toys. The dry your tears afrika cut will exhiliarate you, while the crossing the atlantic cut will make you reflect back on the terrifying, sad journey across the sea that the mende people made. In this essay he explores the problems faced by the producers of amistad and the shortcomings of both the film and its accompanying study guide in their attempt to portray history. As usual, stephen spielberg turns out a quality movie that takes us into the heart. Oluale kossola, the last survivor of the atlantic slave trade duration. During the long trip, cinque djimon hounsou leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. Parents need to know that amistad is a 1997 oscarnominated steven spielberg movie about west africans on a slave ship who revolt against their captors but still must fight for their freedom in the courtrooms of america.
Amistad was the story of a slave bearing ship that was bearing slaves over the atlantic. He speaks no english, but learns a little while in prison, and a. In the summer of 1839, on a stormy night off the coast of cuba, 53 africans. The film is a fictional portrayal of events surrounding the successful revolt in 1839 by a group of africans headed for slavery in the americas. History deserves to be remembered recommended for you.
A very underrated movie amistad is a powerful epic. It is carrying a cargo of africans who have been sold into slavery in cuba, taken on board, and chained in the cargo hold of the ship. At the time of the amistad incident in 1839, there were millions of slaves in the south, but slavery was illegal in the north, where black people lived freely although still as second class citizens. The young lawyer roger baldwin matthew mcconaughey and john quincy adams anthony hopkins, the last surviving founding. Stevie lundy jrtags amistad middle passage,slave ship scene,trailer,full movie,slave ships,slave. For authentic speech, the africans speak the mende language, subtitled during. Priest holding a bible blesses the transatlantic slave trade with a crossuploaded by,dr. Translation for amistad in the free spanishenglish dictionary and many other english translations. It is also mostly true to the history of events surrounding the amistad mutiny, and the defense of the africans responsible for it by john quincy adams and a young lawyer named baldwin. This is amistad middle passage edited by george washington on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
This movie is still amazingly powerful 20 years later. Amistad spanish to english translation spanish central. Amistad is the name of a slave ship travelling from cuba to the u. Asked in war and military history, history of africa, spanish to english what is the movie amistad all about. Countless families have heard eds ideas echoed from pulpits and in newslettersthanks to clergy and newsletter editors who subscribe to either the journal or the monthly film capsules. Amistad chronicles the incredible journey of a group of enslaved africans who overtake their captors ship and attempt to return. For authentic speech, the africans speak the mende language, subtitled during some scenes but not. I would like to break down what transpired in the movie and how the characters were portrayed and find homework help for other history. Otherwise, it cant decide on its direction, and this unique historical event. Freed slave theodore joadson morgan freeman wants cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer roger baldwin matthew. The film opens on the ship amistad, where cinque djimon hounsou is able to.