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Amistad

Threat advisory: Severe - Severe risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Freedom is not given. It is our right at birth. But there are moments when it must be taken.

In the summer of 1839, on a stormy night off the coast of Cuba, 53 Africans held captive in the cramped cargo holds of the Spanish slave ship La Amistad break free of their shackles. Led by Cinque (Djimon Hounsou), they arm themselves, take control of the ship and reclaim their freedom. They have one goal, to return to Africa, but the ship is captured by the USA Navy and the Africans are charged with murder and piracy.

In the beginning, the Africans are championed by abolitionists Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman) and Lewis Tappan (Stellan Skarsgård), and a young real estate attorney named Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey). However, as the case becomes the symbol of a nation divided, two great Americans lock horns in the debate. Pro-slavery President Martin Van Buren (Nigel Hawthorne) seeking re-election is willing to sacrifice the Africans to appease the South as well as Queen Isabella of Spain (Anna Paquin). But his will is challenged by former president John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) who comes out of retirement to fight the Africans' cause in the USA Supreme Court. This is a fight for the basic right of all humankind... freedom.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film drama true USA slavery protest politics law repeal freedom court trial

Persons of interest

Morgan Freeman .... Theodore Joadson
Nigel Hawthorne .... Martin Van Buren
Anthony Hopkins .... John Quincy Adams
Djimon Hounsou .... Cinque
Matthew McConaughey .... Baldwin
David Paymer .... Secretary Forsyth
Pete Postlethwaite .... Holabird
Stellan Skarsgård .... Tappan
Razaaq Adoti .... Yamba
Abu Bakaar Fofanah .... Fala
Anna Paquin .... Queen Isabella II
Tomas Milian .... Calderon
Chiwetel Ejiofor .... Ensign Covey
Derrick N. Ashong .... Buakei
Geno Silva .... Ruiz
John Ortiz .... Montes
Ralph Brown .... Lieutenant Gedney
Darren E. Burrows .... Lieutenant Meade
Allan Rich .... Judge Juttson
Paul Guilfoyle .... Attorney
Peter Firth .... Captain Fitzgerald
Xander Berkeley .... Hammond
Jeremy Northam .... Judge Coglin
Arliss Howard .... John C Calhoun
Willie Amakye .... Folowa
Luc Assogba .... Gbatui
Mariah Campbell .... Masery
Habib Conteh .... Bai
Stephen Conteh .... Morlai
Monguehy Fanzy .... Fabanna
Jimmy Fotso .... Kwong
Adekunle Ilori .... Kahei
Sheriff Kargbo .... Almamy
Saye Lah .... Kessebe
David Franzoni .... Screenwriter
Steven Spielberg .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Amistad official movie site
See also Amazing grace

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Steven Spielberg was chosen to direct Amistad because of Schindler's list. The sensitivity with which he presented the case of an unloved and undesired minority (Jews) appealed to the woman who brought the story to the screen: Debbie Allen (probably best known as Lydia Grant in Fame). And it pays off. What I saw was a huge story spanning one ocean, two continents, three courts and innumerable cultures. Amistad has a grandeur that makes it hard to believe that it is other than a piece of Hollywood fiction but it also has an intimacy that tells you it can be nothing but real. (In fact, it is all based on fact.)

Djimon is absolutely astounding as Cinque: incredibly beautiful to look at, powerful and heroic, but at the same time a deeply wounded and passionate man. Someone else who gets a nod is Anthony Hopkins. He's played so many good roles that you forget how talented he can be, but as the ex-president, he is riveting. His speech before the Supreme Court is a masterpiece of character, timing, mannerism, emotion and performance.

There is only one weak link in this film and that is its length. At 155 minutes a great number of people will avoid seeing it, but it is they who will lose out. Rare for me, there is not a frame I would remove from the final cut.

Amistad is a great film, one which must be experienced to be understood.

Security censorship classification

M (Low level violence, adult themes)

Surveillance time

155 minutes

Not for public release in Australia before date

DVD retail: Undated April 1999