"Amazing Grace": Pro and Con

Last Friday Charlotte Allen, who is Catholic, reviewed Amazing Grace, the cinematic rendition of the story of abolitionalist William Wilberforce (1759-1833), and found it wanting:

It is rare that a Hollywood film takes up a subject like William Wilberforce (1759-1833), the British parliamentarian who devoted nearly his entire 45-year political career to banning the British slave trade. Alas, a lot of people watching "Amazing Grace," Michael Apted's just-released film, may get the impression--perhaps deliberately fostered by Mr. Apted--that Wilberforce was a mostly secular humanitarian whose main passion was not Christian faith but politics and social justice. Along the way, they may also get the impression that the hymn "Amazing Grace" is no more than an uplifting piece of music that sounds especially rousing on the bagpipes.

Evangelical author and blogger S.T. Karnick takes exception to Allen's review, responding:

I categorically disagree with Ms. Allen's assessment of the film. To give evidence of an absence in a film is difficult, of course, but it is significant that she doesn't give any examples of specific instances in which Amazing Grace slights religion. All she provides is an interview statement by the film's director, Michael Apted, to Christianity Today in which he clearly meant to convey that he wanted to avoid preachiness in the film. That is a statement for which I would commend him. ...

She fails to acknowledge, for example, the film's treatment of Wilberforce's struggle to decide whether to devote his life to politics or the ministry, and his friends' persuasive argument that his talents would be best spent in politics and hence that is the best place for him to serve God. The first scene in which we see him at home, he is lying on the ground staring in wonder at the pastoral scene around him, and talks to his servant about his great delight in God's creation.

If anything, Wilberforce comes off as entirely driven by religion and specifically a fiercely passionate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the hallmarks of evangelicalism. There can be no doubt of this from anyone watching the film fairly and carefully.

I've not seen the movie, so I can only offer these writers' comments. However, a short essay about Wilberforce, written by Jonathan J. Bean, can be read on IgnatiusInsight.com.

Comments

[Sandra Miesel]

I just saw AMAZING GRACE this afternoon. It's a worthy film, well produced and acted but the storytelling is a bit scrambled. If you take a quick look at some information about Wilberforce before you go, the film will make more sense.

AG doesn't mention Wilberforce's support of missionary activity and other religious causes although it does give the most fleeting glimpse of an influential spiritual book that he wrote. But there are enough quiet indications that his faith motivates his good works. The results are better than the sort of heavy-handed Christian movies some well-meaning Evangelicals have pushed even if it isn't as fine a film as CHARIOTS OF FIRE.

Nevertheless, some reviewers found the film too simplistic in its black and white morality. Being pro or anti-slavery are morally equivalent?? The historical Wilberforce would have been pained to see our day.

[Mark Brumley]

Thanks for the thoughtful analysis, Sandra.

I found the film most helpful. Yes, as Allen holds, more of Wilberforce's Christianity could have been depicted. But it is just plain wrong to suggest that he comes off as a secular humanitarian in the film. Not by light years.

Certainly, this understated approach, even with its flaws, is better than the hamfisted video preachments that some Christians have produced. Of course those efforts are well-intentioned and have their audience. Fair enough. But why should this film be criticized for not being one of those?

[Sandra Miesel]

It should be noted that Wilberforce is counted as a saint on the Anglican calendar.

[cranky]

I want to see it as my wife is interested in watching it. Her expressing interest in any movie is a signal event on my social calendar.

[David Deavel]

Sandra, you might recall Fr. Alvin Kimel's comments about the fact that Anglicans don't actually refer to any post-reformation figures as "Saint William Wilberforce" or the like, even if they get a memorial on the calendar.

I'm still confused about why the movie is about William Wilberforce instead of the slave trader who wrote "Amazing Grace." John Newton's story is interesting, too.

Side note: Most of Wilberforce's children ended up Catholic: William, Jr., Henry, and Robert, as well as a sister, I believe.

[Elizabeth]

I saw parallels in the fight for life today. It is encouraging that one man, with the backing of faithful Christians could bring down a bad law. Pray that a faithful person may be found in our Congress.

[Leticia Velasquez]

I think we have such a faithful man, Elizabeth, Sam Brownback Senator and presidential candidate from Kansas. He's a leading pro-lifer, ardent Catholic, and accross-the-aisle supporter of human rights around the globe, that's why he's been called the William Wilberforce Republican.