Gut Wrenching Portrayal

Rating: 9/10 (5 January 2017)

If I wanted to and had the time, I could dismantle every historical film ever made. As good as "Lincoln" was, one could get into angels on the heads of pins if you wanted to. So, do we not make Amistad? Do we quibble over whether John Quincy Adams said this, or what the political fervor was at the time. Those who criticize this film for its historicity need to realize that the scholars have also put their own imprints on the events. Movies make a point. Rather than dis things because your scholarship found something wrong with it (in some cases for the sake of your own racism), take into account that the events that took place on the cinematic Amistad were typical of what did happen and the actions of the slave traders were typical of what often happened. The scene where the chained slaves were allowed to drown without a by your leave should be enough. Do people still actually doubt that slavery was a bad thing and continue to not see the implications? This film may be fiction, but it is grounded in truth. By the way, even documentaries are a form of fiction in that the producers and directors add their own editing and control the images.