Drama · History · Mystery
American
1997 · Directed by Steven Spielberg · 155 min
In 1839, a group of Africans held captive aboard a Spanish ship take their fate into their own hands, and the ship ends up in American waters. What follows is a long struggle over a question that sounds simple: who are these men in the eyes of the law?
Why it matters in cinema history
A defining example of 1990s prestige historical drama, and part of Hollywood's slow, uneven move toward telling stories of slavery from the perspective of the enslaved.
Watch with intention
Watch how the film keeps asking who is allowed to speak, and in what language, and who gets to be heard.
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