Film with slavery theme

[SithLordMolly]

Hello

I'm interested in learning about slavery (what it actually involved, impact, how it came to an end) and would like to watch a film which covers the issues well - not a Gone with the Wind minor sub plot type film. I'm not good with documentaries.

Any recommendations appreciated.

12 years a slave maybe, or amistad

There is a great Harriet Tubman film called Harriet which is fairly older child friendly, certainly nothing like 12 years a slave. Netflix I think

Self Made is a series on Netflix about Madam C J Walker that is a bit after slavery but highlights the impacts and struggles afterwards.

Also Samuel L Jackson did a documentary called Enslaved on BBC I think where he traced his enslaved ancestors roots back to Africa and that was really interesting and enlightening

If you fancy a non British film there's a Danish one called Empire (viften) about slavery and the riots in the Danish West indies. It's on my Danish Netflix, don't know if it's on the uk.

12 Years A Slave, but note that many found it a difficult watch. I felt physically sick in some scenes, the cruelty of mankind is just horrific.

12 Years a Slave
Glory
The Help
Django Unchained
Taken

Roots, but it’s a TV show but very excellent. There is a new version which I haven’t seen but the old one is still watchable in my opinion

As others have recommended, Amistad, 12 Years a Slave and Roots are all fantastic. They are all extremely brutal and distressing though (although the older series of Roots is a little less violent than the two films; not seen the newest version which is an 18).

Roots, Django Unchained, 12 years a slave

Another vote for the Roots original series, there are two, the second one is called Roots Next Generations, it's shocking & hard to watch sometimes but it is educational. I thought the remake wasn't very good. Just remembered The Colour Purple as well , the original one with Oprah in, I've not seen the remake.

Probably more 'entertaining' than educational but you could try Cricket's Dance. It's one of those storytelling from the past type of films but very watchable.

Read Roots the book rather than watching the TV series. There's so much more in the book (as always)

Emancipation

Antebellum

There was an excellent TV series called The Long Song based on the book by Andrea Levy. It is set in Jamaica towards the end of slavery in that area.

(Though it isn't streaming or that readily available on dvd - shame!)

If your aim is to learn about the trade and its impact then the Roots TV series is the best way in, I think.

Yes to 12 Years a Slave, Roots (the original one) and The Colour Purple (again, original)

Be warned that none of them are easy to watch though 😞

The free state of jones is brilliant