Amistad
(1997)
- Information at Internet
Movie Database
- "Scripture
on the Silver Screen," Adele Reinhartz, Journal of Religion and
Film, 1998.
-
"Amistad,"
Steve Lansingh, TheFilmForum: Christian Conversation about the Movies.
-
Cinema in Focus, a
social and spiritual commentary by Hal Conklin and Denny Wayman.
-
Looking Closer, review by Jeffrey Overstreet, "searching for truth, beauty
and meaning in the movies."
- Hollywood
Jesus visual review
-
Review, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality & Health -
Spiritual Practices for Human Being.
- Themes
- Baptism
- Cinque sinks into the water, appears dead, surfaces
again. (DVD ch 3)
- Bible
- Bibles on the slave
ship. Yamba learns the Bible story. (DVD ch 13)
- Clean/Unclean
- Attitudes about the
"uncleanliness" of black people/non-Christians make the
institution of slavery seem positive - good Christian people enslave
them in order to bring them to Christ.
- Because Cinque is black, he is imprisoned. If he
were white, he'd be called a hero for the same actions. (DVD ch 21)
- Confrontation with
Evil
- Determination,
Overcoming Obstacles
- Cinque uses a nail to free himself
from his bonds. (see review at Hollywood Jesus)
- Freedom/Liberation
- "GIVE US FREE!" (DVD ch 13)
- Cinque uses a nail to free himself
from his bonds. (see review at Hollywood
Jesus)
- "The natural state of man is freedom. He will
try and try and try to get home." (DVD ch 21)
- Garden of Eden
- Cinque pulled from Paradise.
- Home
- "The natural state of man is freedom. He will
try and try and try to get home." (DVD ch 21)
- Identity
- "What is their story? What is your story? You
know what they are. Do you know who they are?"
(DVD ch 9)
- Individuality/Honor/Integrity
- "We have avoided calling upon our ancestors
perhaps because we fear that our individuality is not our own. Who
we are is who we were." (DVD ch 21)
- Institutional Evil
- slavery/slave trade
in U.S. history
- Justice
- Is justice
accomplished when the judge proclaims freedom for the Africans?
- Martyrdom/Persecution
- "They'd be more useful to our cause in death
than in life." (DVD ch 16)
- "Possession"
by Evil
- The Africans are
captured and "possessed"/colonized by others who attempt
to strip them of their humanity.
- Sacrifice
- The judge is willing
to sacrifice his position by freeing the Africans
- Seeing/Seeing
Differently
- After Yamba learns
the story of Jesus, he sees crosses everywhere. (see review at Hollywood
Jesus)
- Vengeance
- When he is freed, Cinque attacks
those who have enslaved him on the ship.
Index of Movie Titles
Index of Movie Themes
