Selma – Movie Review by Anne Brodie
January 9, 2015Uncategorized
Selma
Director: Ava DuVernay
Writer: Paul Webb
Stars: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tim Roth
Director: Ava DuVernay
Writer: Paul Webb
Stars: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tim Roth
Rating 3.5/5
It’s positively shameful that this is the first feature film made specifically on Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic 1965 civil rights march in Selma, Alabama. It has featured as a sidebar in many films but the light has never shone on this dramatic and seminal moment in the struggle for minority rights. And what a moment. Hundreds of brave individuals including King’s core political group, locals, and black and white supporters from across North America set out to have their say in a peaceful, orderly fashion, to claim their equal rights.
They must have gritted their teeth marching on a bridge named for a Ku Klux Klan chief but march they did. The first time it didn’t go well. All white police and state forces drove them back. But the second time, well, they made history. They had their say. The civil rights movement suddenly came into sharp focus and thus was begun the work to equalise everyone, regardless of race.
Today’s’ headlines out of Ferguson, New York, Seattle and other cities suggest not much progress has been made, and that’s a strong subject for debate. Thanks to King’s hopeful efforts and his ultimate sacrifice, the dialogue began and while it’s a better world today, it’s not perfect. The film shows us what might remain to be done.
Ava DuVernay makes her feature film debut with Selma, ands gives it political strength as well as personal realities, like King’s inner doubts that were in stark contrast to his forthright public persona. He would not let his guard down and compromise the fight. He wasn’t perfect, but he was first and offered hope and action. Inside he feared it would never be enough../....
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