Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

Amazing Grace—the movie that follows the struggle for one English man to end the slave trade in England. The movie begins with William Wilberforce travelling out of London to a home in the country to recover from an illness. Along the way, he has his coach stopped to reprimand two farmers beating their exhausted horse because it is unable to move and is lying on the ground; Wilberforce tells the men to let the animal rest before trying to get it to perform any more tasks. This is only a slight glimpse at his character and sets the scene for the rest of the story, which is told partially in flashbacks. Wilberforce is a man set against the idea of slavery, partially due to his friendship with a former slave-trader turned priest, who happens to be the author of Amazing Grace. Wilberforce works tirelessly in appeal after appeal to Parliament to once and for all end slavery in the country. With the help of many considered to be social outcasts, Wilberforce starts wearing down the traditional Parliament. However, he becomes extremely ill and has to leave London to convalesce. After years of leaving the issue alone, Wilberforce returns to London with many from his original group supporting him. He succeeds in getting slavery abolished, but not without many trials and hardships along the way. The movie shows that with determination and persistence one man can change the life of a nation. It is inspirational and really puts everything into perspective.