Although I found Amazing Grace a very moving film, it isn’t entirely without flaws. It never really clarifies why, exactly, Wilberforce was so passionate about ending slavery. Perhaps the motivation is inferred and I missed it. In the movie, he doesn’t seem to have much first-hand interaction with slaves; there aren’t any experiences that would serve as a catalyst for such a single-minded, dogged pursuit of ending slavery.

A clearer revelation of Wilberforce’s motives would only make the movie that much better. Also, Equiano—a former slave and friend of Wilberforce—is apparently supposed to have been a major influence on Wilberforce, but the character himself gets very little screen time. I was disappointed that what seemed to be such a key figure in what transpired was given so little development. Plus, in a movie about slavery, I also found it puzzling that the only former slave in the film is barely ever seen or heard from. It made some of what is dealt with in the movie seem very abstract, and leads back to my question of why this issue was so important to Wilberforce.

However, these are merely nitpicks that would have added greater depth to an already superb film. Ioan Gruffud is surprisingly adept in his portrayal of Wilberforce; any trace of Reed Richards is gone as he gives himself wholly to the role. Albert Finney also puts in a powerful performance as John Newton. Indeed, his few scenes are some of the most powerful in the film, which left me wishing that he had more screen time as well. But this movie isn’t about the man who wrote the old hymn “Amazing Grace”; it’s about another man that Newton influenced with his story who truly grasped what grace is and why it’s so amazing—and how he made sure that all men could experience that grace in freedom.

In the end, I wouldn’t call Amazing Grace a “Christian” film, though it will undoubtedly be tagged as such, which is unfortunate. This is a movie about slavery, about justice, about what is right—and it just so happens that the man who pursued that which is right and just for all men also happened to be a Christian who was influenced by another Christian. The movie itself isn’t about Christianity, but about an important turning point in history as one of the great empires of the world was forced to recognize that all men were created equal—regardless of color or origin. Amazing Grace is quite simply amazing… oh wait, I said I wouldn’t say that. Well, it’s a wonderful movie. Filmed and directed with skill and care, full of powerful and heartfelt performances, it’s a moving experience that will not only educate you, but I also think it will inspire you.