Amistad

La Amistad

"Freedom is not given. It is our right at birth.

But there are some moments when it must be

taken."

The film Amistad was directed by famous director, Steven Spielberg and it is about a slave ship called La Amistad which sailed towards the Northeast Coast of America lead by a group of Spanish inhabitants. La Amistad carried thousands of African slaves said to be from Cuba. However, these slaves who were imprisoned and held captive in horrible conditions managed to fight back and take control of the ship leaving only two Spanish individuals to help them sail La Amistad. A great part of the film involves the court-room trying to solve whether or not the slaves onboard La Amistad deserve their freedom and be taken back to their rightful land.

So far, out of all the films I have watched in my AP U.S. History class, I would have to say Amistad is the movie I have enjoyed the most. The film was a fine method that helped me understand this event in history. Nevertheless, I admit I could not tolerate in observing many of the scenes included in the movie. Especially the scene when one of the main characters is describing how the slaves were taken away from their families, tortured, and everything else that was experienced by the slaves. That scene I could not forget.

Not only was the film well directed but it also included a great cast that made the film even more interesting than it already was. Morgan Freeman played the role of Theodore Joadson, Nigel Hawthorne was Martin Van Buren, former president John Quincy Adams was played by Anthony Hopkins, Matthew McConaughey acted the role as Baldwin, and who could forget Cinque, played by actor Djimon Hounsou.

"Give us free." These three simple words continue to replay in the back of my mind because I remember them very well. This minimal quote was said by Cinque, a slave and one of the main characters played by Djimon Hounsou. To me, this quote was powerful. Powerful simply because all what the slaves wanted was their freedom. To be able to go back to their home and see their families and continue to live the life they once lived. A life without persecute and torture.

By watching Amistad, the film made me look back and think how much