Amazing Grace (2006 film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amazing Grace
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michael Apted
Produced by	Patricia Heaton David Hunt Terrence Malick Edward R. Pressman Ken Wales
Written by	Steven Knight
Starring	Ioan Gruffudd Romola Garai Ciaran Hinds Rufus Sewell Youssou N'Dour Michael Gambon Albert Finney Benedict Cumberbatch
Music by	David Arnold
Cinematography	Remi Adefarasin
Editing by	Rick Shaine
Studio	FourBoys Films Walden Media Bristol Bay Productions Ingenious Film Partners
Distributed by	Momentum Pictures (United Kingdom) Roadside Attractions Samuel Goldwyn Films (United States)
Release date(s)	16 September 2006 (2006-09-16) (TIFF) 23 February 2007 (2007-02-23) (US) 23 March 2007 (2007-03-23) (UK)
Running time	118 minutes
Country	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Budget	US$29 million
Money made	US$32.1 million

Amazing Grace is a 2006 biographical drama film. It tells the true story of William Wilberforce, a British politician. He led a big campaign to stop the slave trade in the British Empire. The movie's title comes from the famous 1772 hymn "Amazing Grace". The film also shows the life of John Newton, who used to be a captain of slave ships. He later changed his life and wrote the poem that became the hymn. Newton is shown as a very important person who influenced Wilberforce and the movement to end slavery.

The movie first showed on September 16, 2006, at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was released widely in the U.S. on February 23, 2007. This date was special because it was 200 years after the British parliament voted to ban the slave trade.

The Story of Amazing Grace

The movie begins in 1797. William Wilberforce is feeling unwell and is on holiday in Bath, Somerset. There, he meets Barbara Spooner, who later becomes his wife. She encourages him to share the story of his life and work.

William Wilberforce's Journey

The story goes back 15 years to 1782. Wilberforce was a young, popular Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the British parliament. He had a strong religious experience. This made him want to leave politics and study religion. But his friends, like William Pitt, Thomas Clarkson, Hannah More, and Olaudah Equiano, convinced him to stay. They believed he could do more good by fighting against the British slave trade.

Wilberforce felt even more strongly about this cause after meeting his old teacher, John Newton. Newton had been a slave ship captain. He deeply regretted his past actions and the harm he caused. Newton encouraged Wilberforce to take on the fight against slavery.

The Fight for Freedom

William Pitt became the Prime Minister. A Prime Minister is the head of the government. Wilberforce became a close supporter of Pitt. Pitt gave Wilberforce a chance to propose a law to stop the slave trade. Wilberforce worked very hard, but many people in the House of Commons did not like his ideas.

He was opposed by powerful MPs and lords who benefited from the slave trade. These included Banastre Tarleton and the Duke of Clarence. Even with public support and help from Charles James Fox, Wilberforce's bill to end the slave trade was defeated. His friendship with Pitt also became difficult. Pitt was busy leading the country during the French Revolutionary Wars. He told Wilberforce that his cause had to wait for a more stable time.

Wilberforce kept fighting, but after many years of failures, he felt tired and frustrated. He thought his life's work was for nothing. He became very sick and considered leaving politics. But Barbara convinced him to keep going. She said no one else was willing or able to do this important work. Soon after, William Wilberforce and Barbara got married.

Years passed without much success. But his wife and children gave him the strength to continue. Finally, Wilberforce found a new way to fight. He planned to slowly weaken the slave trade through smaller, less obvious laws. With help from Henry Thornton, Clarkson, and James Stephen, he brought his bill back. After a 20-year campaign and many attempts, a bill was passed in 1807. This law ended the slave trade in the British Empire forever.

Who's in the Movie?

Making the Movie

The film was mostly shot in Hull, Yorkshire, in England. A place called Baker's Quay was used to look like the old East India Docks in London around 1780. Filming happened in October 2005. It included several large tall ships, like the Kaskelot. Scenes showing the Houses of Parliament were filmed in a church in Chatham Historic Dockyard in January 2006. The wedding scene was filmed at Garsington Church.

Some outdoor scenes were also shot at the former Greenwich Hospital and around Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Music from the Film

• Amazing Grace (soundtrack)
• Amazing Grace (score)

The movie's soundtrack included the song "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" by Chris Tomlin. The movie's background music won the Instrumental Album of the Year award at the Dove Awards of 2008.

Awards and Recognition

See also

• List of films featuring slavery