The movie amistad is a wonderful story of slavery in america and the subsequent supreme court trial. The film opens on the ship amistad, where cinque djimon hounsou is able to free himself from shackles and release his fellow prisoners. They rise up against the spanish crew of the ship, which is taking them from a havana slave market to another destination in cuba. The africans had control of the amistad for only a short time before it was seized by the u. Glory surely deserves considerable credit for spurring interest in creation of the monument. In 1839, the slave ship amistad set sail from cuba to america. Jan 08, 2011 teaching american history and the movie amistad by christine meissner if one wishes to understand the causes of the civil war and the development that led to the emancipation proclamation, it is imperative to understand the role of slavery in the nineteenthcentury united states. Oil painting of the amistad off the coast of long island. Amistad mutiny, july 2, 1839, slave rebellion that took place on the slave ship amistad near the coast of cuba and had important political and legal repercussions in the american abolition movement. Spielberg does a great job in recreating the amistad revolt that spurred a series of trials beginning in the lower courts of connecticut and ultimately ending in the supreme court. Amistad 1997 found spielberg in social historian mode. Amistad 58 movie clip a call to the ancestors 1997 hd duration. Jan, 20 reflection paper on the movie amistad amistad was based on the true story of a group of africans that were kidnapped and sold as slaves. Amistad, the new film by steven spielberg, is a masterpiece of film making providing a thoroughly rewarding.
I have watched this movie and thought it over thoroughly afterwards. If not, they might be able to make money by selling some of the slaves. The film is a fictional portrayal of events surrounding the successful revolt in 1839 by a group of africans headed for slavery in the americas. Both have conflicting goals, one in search for family, and the other in search for fortune. Much of the story revolves a courtroom drama as lawyers for the slaves seek their freedom and return home. Slavery could, i suppose, be seen largely as a matter of laws and propertyat least to those benefitting from it. Todays quiz circles back to the 19th century reforms as i stated earlier. The film centres on the slave revolt that took place aboard the spanish slave ship amistad in 1839 and the subsequent trial in the united states for which the slaves were tried for insurrection on the high. I would like to break down what transpired in the movie and how the characters were portrayed and find homework help for other history. How much did you know about the subject before we started. Yearning to watch amistad on your tv, phone, or tablet. See more ideas about spanish quotes, friends in love and reflection quotes.
These captives were sent to havana, cuba to be sold into slavery. Teaching american history and the movie amistad american. My reaction to the movie amistad was of mixed emotions. Reflection of the movie amistad 1426 words bartleby. What is the central message of this motion picture. Spielberg does a great job in recreating the amistad revolt that spurred a series of trials beginning in the lower courts of conne.
Cinque was a real character who came out in the amistad. Spielberg begins the story as 53 africans on board the ship amistad stage a bloody revolt and then force two surviving crew members to sail back to africa. Army, capturing the africans and forcing them to face a trial, on. Have you done a similar kind of work in the past earlier in the year or in a previous grade. Amistad movie steven spielberg in his 1997 movie amistad, based to a certain extant on the facts underlying an actual mutiny by slaves, creates a complex narrative that illustrates the best and the worst of the human species. There were many important parts in the movie, the part where the slaves took over the ship, their capture and their torture on the ship, their trials, and the return to africa. The movie provides a reinactment of the slave journey between africa and the united states of america. It is important to note that the amistad case was a symbolically important. When the shot changes to behind him chasers view, the sun is dead in front of him and setting. Supreme court justices in 1839 were slaveowning southerners.
Slave trading was banned from 1840 and this was mentioned in the movie several times. Amistad reflection paper 8 august 2016 amistad reaction the movie amistad was a great movie. In this essay he explores the problems faced by the producers of amistad and the shortcomings of both the film and its accompanying study guide in their attempt to portray history. In the movie amistad there are many instances where african americans are treated very poorly, just like they were not even the same creature the captors were. This trial marked the beginning of a court case that dramatically challenged our judicial system. The films protagonist, sengbe pieh, most known by his spanish name, cinque, painstakingly picks a nail out of the ships structure and uses it to pick the lock on his shackles. The sailors thought they might receive a reward for capturing the amistad. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. Amistad boasts a starspangled cast that includes nigel hawthorne as proslavery president martin van buren, anna paquin as the pubescent queen isabella of spain, and morgan freeman and stellan. The amistad s story began in 1839 when slave hunters captured large numbers of native africans near mendeland in presentday sierre leone. Led by cinque, they arm themselves, take control of the ship and reclaim their freedom. It does contain a few visually compelling moments, such as the scene on a slave ship that viscerally conveys the horrors of the middle passage. What process did you go through to produce this piece. Also the topic of todays movie is the transatlantic slave trade.
Army, capturing the africans and forcing them to face a trial, on charges of murder and mutiny. They revolted against their captors and win, but are later defeated by a group of americans. The opening scene, showing the slave revolt on board the amistad, is very violent, with blood and death from swords, axes, and muskets. Historian eric foner, dewitt clinton professor of history at columbia university, examines the issues surrounding the historical film amistad. Today racial issues sometimes get overlooked and to see a movie that shows how they use to be may make people become more aware of how they treat someone else that is a different race. The amistads story began in 1839 when slave hunters captured large numbers of native africans near mendeland in presentday sierre leone. Amistad mutiny north americanafrican history britannica. Amistad reaction the movie amistad was a great movie. Reflection paper on the movie amistad amistad was based on the true story of a group of africans that were kidnapped and sold as slaves. A brief summary of legal positions that were presented in the amistad case. Saint reflections are a great way to learn about the saints and, through them, to deepen our relationship with god. S supreme court ruled that the blacks had been illegally taken as slaves.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Parents need to know that amistad is a 1997 oscarnominated steven spielberg movie about west africans on a slave ship who revolt against their captors but still must fight for their freedom in the courtrooms of america. This short film conveys powerful messages that inspire its audience. One of the astonishing facts revealed in steven spielbergs amistad is that seven of the nine u. It is also mostly true to the history of events surrounding the amistad mutiny, and the defense of the africans responsible for it by john quincy adams and a young lawyer named baldwin. Rent amistad 1997 starring morgan freeman and nigel hawthorne on dvd and bluray. Actually, it is an account of a slave ship that was transporting slaves to the u.
Steven spielberg in his 1997 movie amistad, based to a certain extant on the facts underlying an actual mutiny by slaves. The federal courts and the challenge to slavery what happened on the amistad ship. A great movie that realisticly shows the brutality used agaisnt africans in the 1800s. Through broken english, the flower vendor convinces the man what is truly important in life, family over business. Select a link below to explore these saint reflections. I am not usually one to put down a film because of the inaccuracies, but since. Slavery has always been the most shocking phenomena of our world. The film gives the distinct impression that the supreme court was convinced by adams plea to repudiate slavery in favor of the natural rights of man, thus taking a major step on the road to abolition. The washington towed the amistad to new london, connecticut. When the amistad is captured by the american naval vessel, and cinque jumps out of the dinghy to swim for it, the frontal shot of his face with the pursuing boat behind him shows the sun overhead, at midday or morning, towards viewers left. Amistad was based on the true story of a group of africans that were kidnapped and sold as slaves.
When a group of men and women were kidnapped from the. Spielberg does a great job in recreating the amistad revolt that spurred a series of trials beginning in the lower courts of connecticut and ultimately. The movie includes some excellent special effects in scenery, including the initial rebellion on board the amistad, the scenes of cruelty and suffering on board an earlier slaver the tecora which had abducted the prisoners from africa, and the destruction of the sierra leone slave fortress by a british schooner at the end of the film. Amistad reflection paper essay sample sample essays. The film amistad begins with a group of africans, captured from a havana slave market, on a ship named amistad. Horror, anger, sadness, and a plethora of a other emotions ran through my mind as the movie went on. Environmental education resources to commemorate earth days 50th anniversary. This film is based on a true story, that took place in 1839. Get an answer for a detailed summary of the film amistad. The mutineers were captured and tried in the united states, and a surprising victory for the.
Each film recommended by contains lessons on life and positive moral messages. Amistad was a touching, impactful movie and it would be a movie i recommend people to see, just to learn more about history. What i did appreciate is the clear presentation of the case, the pedagogical approach and the rich pictures and documents that are dealt with in the video. Give a short account of how the translator is found and compare it with the approaches you had thought of. The movie made it seem like it was a few white people and blacks against everyone else when that actually was not the case. Overall, however, as a movie amistad is simply a bore. A very underrated movie amistad is a powerful epic. The navy sailors, after hearing the spaniards version of the story, took captive the boat, its cargo, and the africans.
Have your students find out with this short film that not only exposed them to the language but also to the mexican school culture. During the long trip, cinque djimon hounsou leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. Amistad is a very well crafted, well acted, and well told story. In the movie amistad there are many instances where african americans are treated very poorly, just like they were not even the same creature the.
His new film centers on the legal status of africans who rise up against their captors on the high seas and are. Kitbull is a 2019 american traditionally animated short film directed and written by rosana sullivan, produced by pixar animation studios, and distributed by walt disney studios motion pictures. Amistad is a wonderful and brilliant film by steven spielberg, but it still has some major historical inaccuracies. In january 1999, a facility that offered exhibits and research materials operated by the african american civil war memorial freedom foundation and museum opened a short distance from the monument. The amistad was written by david franzoni and was published in 1977. Amistad 1997 cast and crew in 1839, the slave ship amistad set sail from cuba to america. Thecgbros presents reflection when a high school girl tries to give up what she loves in order to fit in, her reflection comes to life to remind her of her true self. The film amistad, by steven spielberg is a prime example of a historically accurate movie that has a glossy hollywood coating to appeal to the public. At the time of the amistad incident in 1839, there were millions of slaves in the south, but slavery was illegal in the north, where black people lived freely although still as second class citizens. The opening scene, showing the slave revolt on board the amistad, is very violent, with blood and death from swords, axes. The movie accurately portrays his voyage across the atlantic ocean.
As history, this account of a cuban slave ship seized in 1839 by its african captives, and their legal travail that ended in the u. The fact that the freedom that we experience today did not come easy, many things. Start writing about amistad reflection paper with our best example essay. Jun 06, 2011 the only reason why the slaves were able to be free was because of such treaty. Based on the true story of a significant moment during americas slave trade, this movie shows the saga of an 1839 mutiny aboard the slave ship, amistad. In what ways have you gotten better at this kind of. It is carrying a cargo of africans who have been sold into slavery in cuba, taken on board, and chained in the cargo hold of the ship. Our guides and lesson plans show teachers how to stress these messages and make them meaningful for young audiences. Tracking down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the steven spielbergdirected movie via subscription can be a challenge. A hurried businessman befriends a young latino flower seller. It is the third film in pixars sparkshorts program, and focuses on a fiercely independent stray kitten and an abused pit bull, who form an unlikely friendship. Amistad, the new film by steven spielberg, is a masterpiece of film making providing a thoroughly rewarding entertainment and learning experience. Amistad the blacks were stolen from africa to be slaves, they revolted upon the port at havana, cuba. Amistad is the name of a slave ship travelling from cuba to the u.
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