I prefer my history with popcorn
Yesterday I saw the movie Amazing Grace, about William Wilberforce, the man who tirelessly worked to get England out of the slave trade a good many years before we Americans figured out to do the same.
Never heard of the guy before.
Which is why I love a good historic film. Yes, I understand it may not always be exactly a hundred percent faithful to the truth, but there are so many historic figures I’ve met only through television and films, and then at least I’m moved to go find out more about them from my second-favorite historical resource, children’s books in the library.
Wilberforce’s story is incredibly inspiring–he had the same attitude Churchill would a century later: “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never.” (Got that Churchill quote from a book, by the way, not a movie). Wilberforce kept striving, arguing and cajoling for 18 years or so, and finally it worked. England got out of the slave business.
There are a few injustices in the world I’d like to get turned around, even if it takes me 18 hard years. And watching a movie like Amazing Grace fires me up all over again. It reminds you that real men and women have made real differences in politics, in society, in how nations treat their humans.
I need a list from the rest of you. Who are the historic figures you might never have heard of–or at least known so much about–if not for seeing a movie about them? And did those movies inspire you in some way?
[And by the way, for an excellent discussion about what makes for good historical fiction (in the bookish way), check out A Chair, A Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy. NOW, please.]
Technorati Tags: Amazing Grace, William Wilberforce, William Wilberforce Was An Idealistic Hottie
April 16th, 2007 at 5:30 am
Why is there the assumption that if it is in a book it is more accurate than if it is in a movie?
April 16th, 2007 at 6:59 am
Because copy editors are FIERCE. You wouldn’t believe the stuff I tried to get past mine, but she would have none of it.
Movie people are much more forgiving of the convenient stretching of the truth.
April 16th, 2007 at 7:20 am
That’s true, I suppose. Copy Editors are all knowing. They never would have let Al Gore get away without mentioning the aliens or that the Sun is getting hotter.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:41 am
A little known Brit flick about historical literary figures that I discovered on cable(and now own the DVD) is Pandaemonium,which stars Linus Roache and John Hannah as Coleridge and Wordsworth. Samantha Morton plays the long suffering Sara Coleridge who put up with snobbery and her husband’s opium habit to boot.
I finally saw the Sophia Coppola version of Marie Antoinette and it was interesting. The film did hit the historical marks you would expect but only gave a vague idea of what Marie’s ultimate fate was. A decent movie but not one I’d recommend for an indepth look at Marie’s life. It’s more of a visual scrapbook.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Lady T, I will definitely check out Pandaemonium. That sounds like exactly my taste.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:52 am
William Wallace, though I still want to know more about Stephen the Irish Fighter.
Braveheart came out in 1995?
I’m old…
April 16th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
I prefer my history unrevised. And with sugar babies.
April 16th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
(Snort.)
April 16th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Michael Collins.
Oskar Schindler.
Rob Roy.
All three played by Liam Neeson, and I didn’t realize that until I typed the last one. Weird…
April 16th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Lassie.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I also like my history shirtless, buff, and portrayed by Brad Pitt.
April 16th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Anakin Skywalker
April 16th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
i’m with barry. i like my history with liam neeson (preferably in a kilt or kilt-like garmet–yummy!)
ps–totally forgot a so to bj–the new web site is awesome!
April 16th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Deborah, long time no hear! I wish Lassie really were real. She was my pretend dog when I was little.
Barry, ditto Oskar Schindler–I’m really grateful I got to learn about him.
Heather, yep to that. Annette, yep to that. Are we all agreed, the hotter the historical figure (as opposed to Capote, say, or Churchill) the more we enjoy learning our history?
April 16th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
rb, i can’t believe you of all people (we know your favorite “historical” movie is really “titanic”) would imply that lassie isn’t real. deborah don’t listen. yes lassie was real, otherwise how could little timmy have ever survived. (robin, shame on you!)
April 16th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Annette, I am not ashamed that I bawled my eyes out in Titanic. You have nothing to hold over my head.
April 16th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
oh don’t go there blog queen, no don’t go there–very dangerous waters. (especially if they are populated by icebergs impervious to modern sonar devices–and i think they are).
April 17th, 2007 at 8:41 am
My heart will go on.
April 17th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
omg patrick–that is soooo sweet. it’s nice to known that space lords (excuse me, “the” space lord) have hearts too.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Karen Silkwood
And since I’m not that much of a movie person (I prefer books) that’s unusual. Must be the whole eco whistleblower thing combined with a Meryl Streep blockbuster performance.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:02 am
oops, forgot . . . Thanks, Annette! I hope you decide to be a GreenSpeaker!