Amazing Grace Parent Guide

Most of us know how slavery ended in the United States – with a Civil War that lasted for five years and killed over 600,000 men. Less well known is the story of how the trade in human beings ended in the British Empire. It is a less bloody tale, but is an inspiring account of tenacity, dedication, and an unbreakable resolve to eradicate a great evil.

Amazing Grace recounts the history of abolition in Great Britain from the perspective of William Wilberforce (Ioan Grufford), a young man on fire with religious devotion. Wilberforce is a kind-hearted idealist, opening his home to feed beggars and vagrants, advocating for an end to cruelty to animals, and speaking out for public education. He is determined to dedicate his life to God until a visit from a friend, William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch) alters his path. Pitt’s eyes are on the Prime Ministership and he wants his school friend to serve by his side in Parliament. Aware that Wilberforce’s heart is centered on God’s will more than earthly power, Pitt convinces him that he can serve God through government service – and the carrot he dangles before Wilberforce is the opportunity to legislate an end to slavery in the British Empire. Rising to the bait, Wilberforce runs for office and takes a seat at Westminster in 1780 at 21 years of age. But the battle to end the slave trade will not be easy…

Amazing Grace is the best kind of historical drama. Forget the dusty period films you saw on TV with pasteboard sets and stiff acting – this movie has top quality production values with gorgeous English locations, lovely costumes and top shelf English acting talent. Michael Gambon, Albert Finney, Romola Garai, Ciaran Hinds, Toby Jones, and Rufus Sewell are just some of the talented actors who give powerful, authentic performances that transport us to the 18^th century. Parents or teachers who want teens to learn from and about the past can’t do better than this film.

Not only is the movie fascinating to watch, its entire narrative is built on positive messages. Wilberforce’s struggle to ban the slave trade was to take almost 30 years and would cut up his peace of mind and destroy his health. His life is a moving story of integrity, persistence, and commitment to moral beliefs that all of us hope our teens will learn from and emulate. And, best of all, these praiseworthy themes come with a paucity of negative content. The most troubling issues in the film are discussions of the cruelties inflicted on the slaves with mention of rape, abuse and other types of violence. This shouldn’t be a surprise – a movie about slavery is going to include disturbing content because slavery is the epitome of institutionalized violence. That it can be defeated – and without bloodshed – is the great message of this film. In the words of Wilberforce’s childhood priest, a reformed slave ship captain who penned a great hymn, “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. “Twas grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will bring me home.”