Faith that changed lives: Amazing Grace

'Amazing Grace" retells one of the great stories of a Christian who lived but never belonged to this world that is the story of William Wilberforce and his efforts to abolish slavery in England. And the attempt is indeed thought provoking. Wilberforceworked tirelessly for the cause and suffered through years of setbacks in Parliament until a key legislator joined his side, and time finally relented to his favored cause.

Ioan Gruffudd stars as Wilberforce, referred to as “Wilber” throughout the movie, who’s first elected to the House of Commons in his early 20s. With the support of his friend, William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), Wilberforce champions the abolitionist cause. Lending support is former slave Oloudah Equiano (singer Youssou N’Dour); Thomas Clarkson (Rufus Sewell), whose impatience with the progress of abolition leads him to advocate revolution as the quickest way to end the slave trade; and Lord Charles Fox (Michael Gambon), who, with the addition of his signature to an abolitionist petition with 300,000 names already on it, tips the scales of justice in favor of freedom and inalienable rights.

Romola Garai stars as Barbara Spooner, to whom Wilberforce confides his frustrations with the repeated failure of his anti–slavery legislation to find support among other lawmakers.

Best of all are the veterans Gambon as Fox, and, in the film’s strongest Christian role, Albert Finney as John Newton – Wilberforce’s childhood pastor and author of the hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Haunted by his own role in the slave trade years earlier, Newton pushes Wilberforce to continue the abolitionist struggle. The movie wisely includes its own version of Newton’s famous quote, from late in his life, as conveyed to Wilberforce: “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour.”

Newton’s faith in the film is clear from the outset, but Wilberforce’s religion plays second fiddle here to his political activism. However, downplayed though it might be, Wilberforce’s faith is by no means ignored. He seeks counsel from Newton and confides in him that his childhood faith, though dormant for a period, has begun to re–emerge. He tells his butler that he’d rather stare at the creative wonder of a spider web than immerse himself in professional and social obligations. A man asks Wilberforce, “You found God, sir?” and Wilberforce replies, “I think He found me.” Later, he says, “I grew up and grew foolish. Now my faith is returning.”

The film is thus easy to recommend, though the nicely lit scenes heavy on dialogue and very light on camera movement even when seems to be an appropriate approach for a historical drama, make the movie in parts somewhat heavy.

Nevertheless, all these are overshadowed by Wilberforce's efforts and eventual success. “Amazing Grace” is a commendable story, with a justifying adaptation too serving as a reminder that believers are called to persevere through trials, and that we sometimes reap rewards in this life as well as the next.