In cinemas January 9th in the USA and February 6th in the UK!
A hard hitting and thought provoking film about the struggle for equal rights. The Oscar and Golden Globe nominated ‘Selma’ is a stunning re-telling of the historical events and protests that took place in the Alabama city. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had been passed, legally desegregating the Southern States of America and granting African-American citizens the right to vote. However the levels of discrimination were still extremely high in some areas and it was made very difficult, if not impossible, for them to actually register to vote.
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Throughout the South were districts where the majority of the population was made up of black men and women, and yet very few were registered compared with white people. Officials and local law enforcement used any means available or outdated legislations to discourage or refuse them. In 1965 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers selected the city of Selma, where racism was rampant, as their battleground to fight for this right.
Despite violent opposition they continued their peaceful protests and Dr. King organised a march from Selma to Montgomery in defiance of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s (Tom Wilkinson) hesitation to change the law and allow them the freedom to vote.
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This is a film that everyone needs to see. A clear picture of how far we’ve come, but also of how far we still have to go in eradicating racism and discrimination. Expect intense, brutal and disturbing scenes of racist abuse against the non-violent protestors. The historical accuracy of the events in this film is a powerful educational tool that will make you weep with shame at the fact that human beings could behave in such a way, especially so near in time to the present day.
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However it also ignites hope and faith in the huge numbers of people who will stand against it in the fight for equality. ‘Selma’ is an absolute masterpiece that goes just far enough and also pulls back the curtain on what happened. Not only does it depict the events that took place, but it also gives a strong insight into the personal life of Dr. King and how everything affected him.
Director Ava DuVernay should be applauded on such an iconic film that will stand its ground in historical cinema. David Oyelowo gives an utterly breathtaking performance as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as he captures the essence of this great man. Carmen Ejogo as his wife Coretta beautifully illustrates the personal effects of King’s campaigning, while Tim Roth portrays the racist Governor George Wallace so well that you are utterly disgusted by him.
A film of true suffrage that will keep your eyes glued to the screen and wet with tears. Brilliant.
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