Film review: Selma.

I recently went to the cinema to watch a film by the American director, Ava DuVernay. The title of the film was Selma. The movie was about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his tireless campaign to allow African-American citizens the right to vote. A series of historic protest marches which took place in the U.S. state of Alabama, starting from Selma and ending in Montgomery, featured in the film. I found Selma thought-provoking and very interesting as it presented the struggle of the African-American people to have the law changed in order that they could vote in their own home country.

The film showed Oprah Winfrey's character, Annie Lee Cooper, trying to register to vote but she was turned down and so she wasn't able to vote. Throughout the film King tries to persuade President Lyndon Johnson to introduce new legislation to enable the black citizens to vote. Johnson is seen as reluctant but he maintains that he is busy with more important projects. King does not give up however and he rallies the people round with several of his speeches especially when it seems that all hope is lost.

The film tells us more about King and what the famous civil rights activist was like. King was well-known for his iconic, "I have a dream" speech. However, in the film he was presented as empathetic as he was shedding a tear when a person was killed trying to run away from the state troopers. He was very animated in his speeches and his righteous indignation was evident when he spoke due to the harsh treatment of the African-American citizens who took part in peaceful protests. King was seen as a family man and a loving husband but at times his marriage showed signs of strain as he was engrossed in his work and refused to give up the fight to secure equal rights for black people.

I found myself rooting for the people who participated in the marches and I was willing them to successfully cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge. However, I was distressed and annoyed when they were savagely beaten up by the state troopers. They even faced opposition from the Governor of Alabama, George Wallace. I thought, if at first you don't succeed, try again. Luckily they persevered and gained additional support from some white people who risked their safety because they did what they believed was right.

The actor who portrayed King, David Oyelowo, was very convincing as the civil rights activist. In fact he played King brilliantly. He made us rally behind King and empathise with him, our feelings echoing his. King is portrayed as a likeable person who cares for both his people and his family. He is a hard-working man whose main priority is to secure the right to vote for African-American citizens. Carmen Ejogo was also excellent in her portrayal of King's wife, Coretta. I also thought that the role of President Johnson was well acted by Tom Wilkinson. All the actors in general were good, including the rapper Common who played James Bevel, the man who led the marches.

I enjoyed the film and thought it was good. I had nothing negative to say about it but what I gained from the film was the knowledge of what Martin Luther King went through, the opposition he faced and his tireless struggle on behalf of the African-American citizens for equality. Selma was one of the few films which saddened and angered me but it brought my attention to what a good man Martin Luther King was.