I’m sure Zac will want to add his two cents about this movie, but I’ll start it off. Amistad tells the true story of a group of African slaves that revolt against their captors while on their way to America on board the Spanish ship La Amistad (means friendship in Spanish. Ironic?). When they reach America, the 1830s American government must decide who they are and who they belong to. At this point in time, the importation of slaves has become outlawed, and only American-born Africans could be enslaved in our country. Matthew McCounaghey plays the lawyer assigned to the case, and the story follows his attempts to communicate with the captives and find out their story. Through Cinque, one of the African slaves, we view the cruelties with which they were treated as their own countrymen captured each of them from their tribes in Africa, and the cruelties which befell them on board the ship. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is remotely interested in the history of our country. I am not sure how accurate it is, but it really caused me to think about the freedom we have in this country and how far we have come since the early days of America. The acting was great, and the story was gripping. However, there are a few parts that may be disturbing to some, even in the made-for-TV version (which is the one we watched). Altogether, a great show.
