Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace tells the true story of William Wilberforce, a young, privileged English politician who sought to end the British slave trade, succeeding in February of 1807. Wilberforce was close friends with the (also-young) prime minister, William Pitt, and served in Parliament from the time of the American Revolution to the early 1800's.

Amazing Grace elaborates on the beautiful theme that a person can be both deeply spiritual and active in changing the world at the same time, two impulses that Wilberforce thinks are mutually exclusive early on in his career. The filmmakers develop his spiritual life in a simple, real-feeling way, showing him laying in the wet grass on some corner of his large estate, delirious in the joy of God's presence and creation, leading his servants to consider him a little crazy (while respecting his sincerity and kindness). Wilberforce succeeds in uniting a life of "meditation and action," advised to do so by his friend John Newton, the monkish converted slave-trader who wrote "Amazing Grace."

The film also demonstrates the spirit & vitality of youth, for example with the radical new ideas that spurred on Wilberforce and Pitt, much to the chagrin of their elders in Parliament, and also their youthful exuberance, as they race each other through the countryside and joke " if they only knew how we carried on..they'd never let anyone under the age of thirty hold office again!"

The story shows that worldy practicality and legal maneuvering were necessary and effective strategies in Wilberforce's battle to end the slave trade in the British empire. It also showed that he worked with many different sorts of people to achieve his ends, from somber, sober clergymen to political radicals with flasks in their pockets. His personal and professional friendship with Pitt was deep, despite differences in belief between the two of them.

The romance between Wilberforce and his wife Barbara is so naturally portrayed, with them talking endlessly through the night practically the first time they meet, showing her natural sympathy with his causes and struggles, and portraying their quick decision to marry all as delightful and believable.

This movie made me proud to be a Christian and a young person and made me want to take action in the world, encouraging me that following an earthly calling does not preclude a life of reflection, and that solitude is not necessary to be spiritual.

Pitt says to Wilberforce: "too many people like you to let you live a life of solitude!" I think anyone who sees this movie will like him, too.