AMAZING GRACE

Year: 2006
USA: Roadside Attractions
UK: Momentum Pictures
UK DVD: Momentum Pictures
Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Romola Garai, Benedict Cumberbatch, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Rufus Sewell, Youssou N'Dour, Ciaran Hinds, Toby Jones, Nicholas Farrell, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Jeremy Swift, Stephen Campbell Moore, Bill Paterson, Nicholas Day, Georgie Glen, Nicholas Woodeson, Tom Fisher, Richard Ridings, David Hunt, David Toole, Alex Blake, Angie Wallis, Harry Audley, Chris Barnes, Tom Knight, Andrew Whipp, Andrew Neil Estelle Morgan, Philip Dunbar, Adam Woodroffe, Joseph Traynor, Simon Delaney, Neville Phillips, Eki Maria, Daniel Naprous, Peter White
Director: Michael Apted
Country: UK / USA
USA: 111 mins
UK: 109 mins
USA Rated: PG for thematic material involving slavery, and some mild language
UK Certificate: PG contains references to the mistreatment of slaves and mild language
USA Release Date: 23 February 2007 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 23 March 2007
UK DVD Release Date: 6 August 2007

Synopsis

"You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say you did not know." - William Wilberforce, 1789

From acclaimed director Michael Apted (THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER) comes AMAZING GRACE, a moving historical epic about the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce.

Ioan Gruffudd (BLACK HAWK DOWN, FANTASTIC FOUR) plays Wilberforce, a man born into the age of the Great British Empire when the country's influence around the globe was at its most powerful. It was, however, an age when the rumblings of social discontent were emerging, and a time when reformers faced an uphill struggle to be heard.

A good friend of England's youngest Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger (Benedict Cumberbatch), Wilberforce is elected to the House of Commons at the age of 21, and entrusted by Pitt with the cause for the Abolition of Slavery.

In spite of his preternatural political prowess, Wilberforce finds himself torn between his successful rising career and his desire to give it all up for a life of spirituality. He seeks the advice of friend and mentor John Newton (Academy Award Nominee Albert Finney), a former slave trader who turned to the Church in order to atone for his earlier life, who suggests that his best way for Wilberforce to serve God would be to fight injustice with his political influence. Inspired by Newton, Wilberforce quickly becomes the rallying voice in Parliament for a fragmented group of like-minded people to fight the cause and make the people of Britain, and ultimately the world, acknowledge the horror of the Slave Trade.

AMAZING GRACE follows Wilberforce's career through his 20's and 30's, as he and his fellow humanitarians make the issue of slavery a talking point throughout the country.

Boasting a terrific ensemble cast, AMAZING GRACE also stars Romola Garai as Barbara Spooner, the beautiful and headstrong young woman who shares Wilberforce's passion for reform, and who becomes his wife after a whirlwind courtship. Michael Gambon (HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN) is Lord Fox, an MP that is convinced by Wilberforce to join the fight against the slave trade. Rufus Sewell (LEGEND OF ZORRO) plays Thomas Clarkson, one of Wilberforce's allies in the anti-slavery movement, and Grammy winning Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour is Olaudah Equiano, an African sent as a slave to the Colonies who bought his freedom and made his home in London where he became a leading figure in the fight to end the slavery of his fellow countrymen.

DVD EXTRAS

Commentary With Director & Ioan Gruffudd
Amazing Grace :How Sweet The Sound
Chris Tomlin Music Video
Trailer