Amazing Grace is a 2006 film directed by Michael Apted about the campaign against the slave trade in 18th century Britain, led by famous abolitionist William Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade legislation through the British parliament. The title is a reference to the hymn "Amazing Grace" and the film also recounts John Newton's writing of the hymn.
The tag line (in US publicity material) is "Behind the song you love is a story you will never forget."
The film starred Ioan Gruffudd as William Wilberforce, Albert Finney as John Newton, Rufus Sewell as Thomas Clarkson, Youssou N'Dour as Olaudah Equiano, Benedict Cumberbatch as Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, Hugh Allison as Forsyth, Pitt's Caddy, Romola Garai as Barbara Spooner, the woman William Wilberforce married, Toby Jones as Prince William, the Duke of Clarence, Nick Thomas-Webster as a Member of Parliament and Ciarán Hinds as Sir Banastre Tarleton, Wilberforce's chief opponents in the House of Commons.
Richard Bailey and Michael Gambon (as Lord Charles Fox) also star in the Bristol Bay Productions feature.
The film premiered at the closing of the Toronto Film Festival on September 16, 2006 and its US premiere was at the opening of the Heartland Film Festival, Indianapolis, Indiana on October 19 2006, after which director Michael Apted participated in a question and answer session. It also was screened as the centrepiece of the annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The film's wider release was on February 23 2007 through IDP and Samuel Goldwyn Films, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of the date the British parliament voted to ban the slave trade.
An elderly woman in a Baltimore neighborhood finds out that a somewhat slow-witted neighbor is being put up for local office by some shady politicians who have no interest in their neighborhood but are interested in getting their hands on the money that comes into it. She gets some neighborhood people together and together they plan to thwart the politicians' schemes. Written by frankfob2@yahoo.com
It's night and a young man (Aidan Gillan) arrives in the midst of London's Soho. He's from Belfast, he's anxious and he looks like he's running away from something. Then, by chance, he meets Grace, a prostitute who happens to come from Belfast too. A connection is made and, for a brief time, she seems to offer the chance of a new future. Written by Steve Brookes
John Newton is captain of a slave ship moored off the coast of Nigeria. He stands at a crossroads in his life, his morality and religion at odds with the brutality of his chosen profession. Stepping ashore, he starts on a journey of redemption that will end in tragedy but prove the catalyst for greater achievements. A local anthem sung in adversity by the slaves he captures punctuates the film. It will be the inspiration for John Newton's redemption, and, years later, for his writing of the world's most enduring hymn, Amazing Grace. Written by Jeta Amata
A special screening of the film was shown in Buncrana, Co. Donegal in Ireland. This was in celebration of John Newton's link with the county, when in 1748 his slave ship, the Greyhound, came ashore after surviving a terrible storm. This event began the spiritual journey for Newton, which culminated in his authorship of the song, Amazing Grace.
The scene where William Wilberforce sings "Amazing Grace" at the card house was actually directly sung from Ioan Gruffudd at that moment. In the last several takes, a playback was used, but it is Ioan singing. Director Michael Apted had no idea whether or not Gruffudd could actually sing. Little did he know, Ioan is an accomplished soloist and choir singer. With a little practice, Ioan performed for the first time on set while the cameras were rolling. All much to the surprise of the cast, crew and director.
