DAVID ADAMS looks at Freedom…
Freedom (M)
In a word: Inspiring
|
Cuba Gooding Jr (left) stars as Samuel Woodward. “Music is one of the most powerful elements in this tale – not a surprise when you know Peter Cousens, veteran of Australian musical theatre, is the director (it’s his first time directing a film) – and among the most stunning voices is that of Jubilant Sykes, who plays a slave on board Newton’s ship, Ozias.” |
A moving film about slavery and the efforts to end the trade, Freedom bring together the stories of the 19th century Underground Railroad in the US with that of the creation of the iconic song Amazing Grace a century before in a tale whose impact will particularly resonate among those concerned with the issue of slavery around the world today.
Cuba Gooding, Jr, stars as Samuel Woodward, a Virginian plantation slave who, in the mid-1800s, decides to escape to Canada with his family using the resources of the Underground Railroad – a network of people and safe houses that existed across the US.
As much as it’s the story of his family’s escape, Freedom also follows Woodward’s personal journey of faith. It’s in encouraging him in that, that through his mother we encounter the story of a Bible she owns which once belonged to John Newton, an 18th century slave ship captain who became an abolitionist and authored one of the most powerful Christian songs of all time – Amazing Grace.
The movie, which is inspired by real events and features a number of “real-life” people like the Underground Railroad’s Thomas Garrett, cuts back and forth fairly seamlessly between the two connected stories to paint a picture of redemption through faith.
Music is one of the most powerful elements in this tale – not a surprise when you know Peter Cousens, veteran of Australian musical theatre, is the director (it’s his first time directing a film) – and among the most stunning voices is that of Jubilant Sykes, who plays a slave on board Newton’s ship, Ozias.
Cousens says the film isn’t a musical – and indeed it’s not with the music more than incidental but not absolutely central – but I was left with a sense that perhaps more could have been made of it.
There’s some strong acting performances, though nothing outstanding – Cuba Gooding, Jr, grounds the film with a solid performance as Woodward while William Sadler, who plays somewhat conflicted slave hunter Plimpton, Sharon Leal, as Woodward’s wife Vanessa, and Bernhard Forcher as Newton all play notable roles and Terrence Mann and Diane Salinger add a comic element via the rather odd theatre performers Barney Fagan and Fanny.
The film is generally visually impressive – again, no surprises here given the cinematographer was Oscar-nominated Dean Cundey – and, while the CGI scenes – particularly those on Newton’s ship – may not be as good as movies with bigger budgets, they’re passable and don’t distract from the film in any great way.
Though it hints at the harshness of the slave trade, Freedom is not as visceral as some previous films tackling slavery – I include Steven Spielberg’s 1997 feature Amistad among these – and this, as a result, should give it a broader appeal.
An inspiring story sure to impact those who watch it. Looking forward to more from Cousens in the future.
