The plot is typically spoiled, while your expectations are shattered. Amistad, the new film by steven spielberg, is a masterpiece of film making providing a thoroughly rewarding entertainment and learning experience. These traders, however, claimed that these slaves came from havanna, cuba. Amistad omits some truths that must be told baltimore sun. This steven spielbergdirected exploration into a longago episode in africanamerican history recounts the trial that followed the 1839 rebellion aboard the spanish slave ship amistad and.
It is carrying a cargo of africans who have been sold into slavery in cuba, taken on. Stephen spielberg directed this 1997 film about a largely true story. Environmental education resources to commemorate earth days 50th anniversary. They put in chains and transported by ship, in appalling conditions, to cuba in the caribbean, where they sold as slaves to two spaniards, ruiz and montes. I would like to break down what transpired in the movie and how the characters were portrayed and find homework help for other history. Amistad is the name of a slave ship travelling from cuba to the u.
Fifty africans kidnapped from their home in sierra leone, in west africa. I picked it up in a small bookstore shortly after it was published and was presently surprised. David franzonis screenplay was based on the book mutiny. The movie gives little time to the bloody slave mutiny led by sengbe pieh called joseph cinque in the united states. Amistad is a wonderful and brilliant film by steven spielberg, but it still has some major historical inaccuracies. On june 27, 1839, the spanish ship the amistad left the port of havana, cuba, with captain ransom ferrer. Hopkins is just as good or better as former president john quincy adams, who takes over the defense at the higher court levels. From the discovery section of this website you can learn the history of the real amistad revolt of 18391842 on which steven spielbergs 1997 feature film amistad was based, a shipboard uprising off the coast of cuba that carried itself, inadvertently but fatefully, to the united stateswhere the amistad captives set off an intense legal. A very underrated movie amistad is a powerful epic. Amistad press is the oldest publisher devoted to multicultural voices. Here are a handful of additional examples, comparingcontrasting scenes from 12 years a slave the movie vs. Jinchen zhao after watching the film amistad and read the book of this story, i feel like they are both valuable to study the history of a. The 1997 film amistad, directed by steven spielberg, and the novel mutiny on the amistad, written by howard jones.
There they will discover several shelves of books on slavery and slave resistance, from. Most often, it is a waste of your time to read a book after you see a movie. This renowned imprint showcases awardwinning novelists, celebrated cultural figures, and esteemed critics and scholars. Africanamerican artist hale woodruff painted murals portraying events related to the revolt on the amistad in 1938, for talladega college in alabama. It almost goes without saying that you have to allow room for some creative leeway and exaggerationchanges for dramatic effect something i addressed last year with an examination of the truth vs. There are both positive and negative aspects of learning major documented moments in history by the two popular mediums of literature. Some historical considerations by helen halyard 18 february 1998 amistad, the film directed by steven spielberg, places before a large audience a glimpse of the brutality of the african. In 1839 fiftythree enslaved africans, led by a mende rice farmer named singbepieh, staged a bloody rebellion on board the amistad, a spanish slaver from cuba. There is another interesting phenomena and that is a section of the population that enjoy both equally. Get an answer for a detailed summary of the film amistad.
During the voyage, there was an uprising in which the slaves killed the captain and took possession of the ship. When you ask people whether they prefer movies or books, you are likely to get a variety of replies. I am not usually one to put down a film because of the inaccuracies, but since. Hounsou is magnificent as cinque, the instigator of the slave revolt. She wrote the book echo of lions rumor that the movie plagiarized the character joadson that played in the amistad from her book she sued dreamworks but lost the case. Overall, however, as a movie amistad is simply a bore. This is the most straightforward, understated, and powerful bigscreen representation of the gospel in recent movie history. They force the ships captain to steer back to africa, but the captain tricks them and heads to the united states where the africans are captured and jailed. The book is a novelization of the film amistad, released in 1997 and directed by stephen spielberg.
Much of the story revolves a courtroom drama as lawyers for the slaves seek their freedom and return home. The amistad case took place in 1839 when 53 illegally purchased african slaves were being transported from cuba to the u. The saga of a slave revolt and its impact on american abolition, law and diplomacy are historical accounts of the slave mutiny that occurred in the year 1839. And for that, amistad should be recommended to everyone. Teaching american history and the movie amistad american. Analysis of the book amistad by steven spielberg and howard jones book, mutiny on the amistad essay 1972 words 8 pages amistad movie is directed by steven spielberg and howard jones book mutiny on the amistad. 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. A movie, amistad 1997, was based on the events of the revolt and court cases, and howard jones 1987 book mutiny on the amistad. Film there are both positive and negative aspects of learning major documented moments in history by the two popular mediums of literature and film. Spielbergs 1997 movie amistad, the uprising, which created a nation al sensation in. His new film centers on the legal status of africans who rise up against their captors on the high seas and are. Compared with most hollywood megafilms, amistad must be considered a step forward.
These captives were sent to havana, cuba to be sold into slavery. 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. It is a sensational and emotional book that will touch. Comparison between the book and movie amistad researchomatic. The film follows the events which occurred after the revolt by enslaved africans onboard the slave ship amistad. In the book, roger baldwin was interested in free the african people before the amistad trial and he was trying to help them in a previous court. Spielberg film faces charge of plagiarism the new york times. The opening scene, showing the slave revolt on board the amistad, is very violent, with blood and death from swords, axes, and muskets. One of the astonishing facts revealed in steven spielbergs amistad is that seven of the nine u. Amistad is the powerfully reimagined history of one of the countrys first battles for civil rights. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel. Comparison between the book and movie amistad comparison between the book and movie amistad comparison between the book and movie amistad introduction the book is a novelization of the film amistad, released in 1997 and directed by stephen spielberg.
Historian eric foner, dewitt clinton professor of history at columbia university, examines the issues surrounding the historical film amistad. While steven spielbergs amistad presents glimpses of historical truths, the majority. Furthermore, it may be compared with other texts, e. However, this is not the case with pates amistad, based on the screenplay of spielbergs extravaganza. 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. Slavery could, i suppose, be seen largely as a matter of laws and propertyat least to those benefitting from it. David pesci by amistad a novel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In 1839 fiftythree enslaved africans, led by a mende rice farmer named singbepieh, staged a more. Morgan freeman, anthony hopkins, djimon hounsou, and matthew mcconaughey had starring roles. I have read a lot of books, but this book really grabbed me into really feeling like i was there. Publisher of works by and about people of african descent, on subjects and themes that have significant influence on the perspectives. Take my word for it the book amistad, brings you into even more detail than the movie. Supreme court justices in 1839 were slaveowning southerners. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company.
Film there are both positive and negative aspects of learning major documented moments in history by the two popular mediums of literature. The amistads story began in 1839 when slave hunters captured large numbers of native africans near mendeland in presentday sierre leone. American officials immediately arrested the africans and charged them with murder for the revolt on the ship, and thus cinque and his fellow africans soon found themselves at the center of a huge and long legal battle that would decide. 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. The movie amistad is a typical hollywood film, in this case, there is inevitable changes to the original story in order to let people pay to watch the movie and be entertained by the film.
In the united states, journalists, novel writers and preachers led the way to abolitionismsuch as. Some people will prefer reading books and other will prefer watching movies. 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. It describes the africans capture, their enslavement, their purchase, the overthrow of their captors and the subsequent trials in america, where they won their freedom and eventual return to. This book is an interesting and well told account of the famous amistad mutiny and trial.
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