AMAZING GRACE

Our second movie in class was Amazing Grace. This was the first time I had ever seen this movie and I hosnestly thought it was going to be a bore war but surprisingly I really enjoyed it very much and would watch it again. I noticed a lot about dialogue in this movie and it is very interesting. I dont remember any questions in this film being answered with a straight response. I have never noticed that when watching films but it makes sense. It keeps things flowing along throughout the film as well as gives you more information than direct question and answer. This film did hit each point of good dialogue. However, we are still looking at structure with this film so without further ado here is the structure outline of Amazing Grace. 

• Opening Image: It is a landscape with a trail. It is raining heavily and there is a horse drawn carriage traveling along the trail. They come by a carriage where the horse is laying on it's side and the assumed driver is whipping him to get him up again. William Wilberforce gets out of the traveling carriage in the pouring rain to tell the driver to give the horse a rest and then perhaps it will be ready to travel again. This is our 'Save the Cat Moment'. 
• Theme: William Wilberforce will use his voice to change the world. 
• Set-up: There is a point in the film early on when William can't decide if he wants to do the work of God to change the world or change the world by abolishing the slave trade. He has a dinner with some important people who can and are willing to help Wilberforce get his Bill passed. One man, a former slave, explains that by getting the slavery trade abolished he is doing the work of God and therefore he can do both. 

Another example is the way Wilberforce speaks about spider webs. He has much work to do and he feels as though he is making progress with his Bill but he would rather be looking at spider webs. Later after he succeeds there is a scene where he is sitting outside and next to him is a beautiful and intricate spider web. 

• Catalyst: There is a scene where Wilberforce is playing cards with some men against abolishing the slave trade and one of them would like to bet his slave when he runs out of money. Wilberforce gets up and leaves. He is angry and confused about what to do with his life. Then he has dinner with some soecial guests as mentioned above and is told he can do both by working on passing the Bill. 

The debate starts on what Wilberforce will do. Will he join in the political slave trade abolishment or do the work of God? 

• B-Story: The love story between William and Barbara. 
• Fun & Games: The most powerful scene, in my opinion, is the Madagasscar scene. The Madagasscar is a boat that tranposrted slaves. Wilberforce is talking to some people on a different boat and telling them how it started with 600 slaves but when it arrived it had only 200. The smell they were experiencing was "the smell of death". Wilberforce was trying to rally support and obtain signatures for his Bill and he definitely made a point in this scene. 
• Mid-Point: Wilberforce has some success with his Bill after bringing in 390 thousand signatures of support. The speaker agrees to examine the petition. He has gained support and gotten someone to listen to him. 
• All is Lost: Wilberforce loses the petition, his relationships start become rocky, and he bigins questioning his decision. He takes a break from petitioning and goes to stay with his cousin. 
• Dark night of the soul and debate: After reaching an all time low and leaving his goal to abolish slavery behind to stay with his cousin, Wilberforce meets Barbara. After telling her his story he states that he will tell her how it ends. She tells him it isn't over yet and his work is not yet finished. Wilberforce decides to keep fighting for his cause and announces that he will return to once again submit his Bill. 
• Finale: After an extensive amount of work and perseverance William Wilberforce's Bill is passed at last. He wins his fight. 
• Final Image: Wilberforce recieves a standing ovation after his Bill is finally passed.