"[18] Roger Ebert awarded the film three out of four stars, writing: Amistad, like Spielberg's Schindler's List, is [] about the ways good men try to work realistically within an evil system to spare a few of its victims. Watch the first scene and make notes of what happens (preferably in English). Theodore Joadson , but it is his spirit, more than his physique, that fulfills the role. Directed by Steven Spielberg. The schooner La Amistad is transporting black slaves off the coast of the Spanish colony of Cuba in 1839. The first men to come to the Africans' defense are abolitionists Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman) and Lewis Tappan (Stellan Skarsgard). He describes how he was kidnapped from his home, and the horrors of the Middle Passage. . No. DVD. There remains one task undone. Tappan What evidence do you find in this film to suggest that the American Civil War is dawning? Collect information on the real case of the Amistad slaves and compare it with its depiction in the movie. Filming & Production By 1804, the anti-slavery movement, which was started by the Quakers in 1775, had succeeded in the North. Referring to Adams being a former president, Cinque says, A chief cannot become anything less than a chief, not even in death. Discuss this statement, also referring to great statesmen. : United States Attorney William S. Holabird brings charges of piracy and murder against them, but they are simultaneously claimed as property both by Montez & Ruiz, and as salvage by two officers from the Washington. Cuba Gooding, Jr. He concludes by stating, Who we are is who we were. And that they need strength, courage and wisdom to triumph over fears and prejudices. It features Debbie Allen, Steven Spielberg, and Colin Wilson as producer, John Williams in charge of musical score, and Janusz Kamiski as head of cinematography. Study John Deans essay on Teaching History through Film. After having watched the movie. He was living in New York when he was contacted by a . Propose ways that could solve their language problem. The Joadson role is a . The premiere of Amistad occurred Thursday, December 4, in Washington, D.C. [14] Foner wrote, "In fact, the Amistad case revolved around the Atlantic slave trade by 1840 outlawed by international treaty and had nothing whatsoever to do with slavery as a domestic institution. Would you personally choose anyone else to play this part . [smiles and nods]. The U.S. The initial hearing of the Amistad case took place before a U.S. But complex white historic figures are presented as noble men interested in the welfare of black people; their evil, racist sides are not revealed. It does contain a few visually compelling moments, such as the scene on a slave ship that viscerally conveys the horrors of the Middle Passage. Theodore Joadson The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and has the ultimate legal authority in interpreting the U.S. Constitution. Van Buren is discredited by his failure to prevent the release of the Africans, and loses the 1840 election to William Henry Harrison. Is that your story? Theodore Joadson Even if you won't. (Vocabulary: to rid oneself of evidence, inventory, provisions required for a journey, ghastly arithmetic, poundage, to have no merit, thorough reflection, utmost faith, to misrepresent sth., on the charge of), Analyze the different camera angles and movements throughout the court room scene and comment on their effect. The judge states that the treaty with Spain is inapplicable as the Africans cannot be considered merchandise and thus the blacks are not slaves but free individuals. [23], The United States Department of State and the Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematogrficos (ICAIC) collaborated in 1998 to screen Amistad as part of an effort to increase "cultural diplomacy" built around shared national histories of racial struggles in the United States and Cuba.[24]. They're Africans. Thomas Gedney, Richard Meade, naval officers Held under lock and key once more, the Africans, charged with murder and piracy, become the objects in a heated property trial, and the film settles . Freed slave Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman) wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey) to help his case. Explain why Joadson breaks down on the ship. The actor who secured the role would also need to learn the Mende accent spoken by Cinqu. BLACK people who think that Steven Spielberg's latest movie "Amistad" is about black heroes taking their freedom by any means necessary are doomed to disappointment upon seeing the movie. The then former Supreme Court Justice, Harry Blackmun has a brief role portraying Justice Joseph Story, who delivered the opinion in the "Amistad" case. What are a few outstanding elements of character, tone, and gesture which the actor Morgan Freeman brings into the role of Theodore Joadson? Theodore Joadson . He has been suggested by fans for 3,287 roles on myCast, including Actors in Talent that should be in the MCU . In "Amistad," Freeman plays an abolitionist who helps recruit the two principal attorneys for Joseph Cinque and the other 52 Africans accused of mutiny on a slave ship. He asks Cinque to stand up and explains that if he were not a black man, he would be considered a hero as he fought for his freedom. During the long trip, Cinque leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. What follows is a lesson plan for advanced level students providing background information as well as pre-, while- and post-viewing assignments which address issues that could become topics of discussion or closer study. Collect information on the vessel La Amistad and present it to the class. : Boston, Nov. 6th. Hounsou was not able to learn all his lines in Mende and those he could not were broken down and spoken phonetically, except for the most important scenes which he knew he needed to understand every word being spoken. The most significant character alteration Spielberg has made is that of Attorney Roger S. Baldwin. : Apart from the intrepid Cinque, the Africans' leader, we never learn how the captives responded to their ordeal. Religion played a significant role . Cinque tells the story of how they were captured, brought to Lomboko slave fortress (in Sierra Leone), transported on the vessel Tecora to Cuba and how they were sold there and were transferred to the Amistad. They are soon joined by Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey), a property attorney of little repute. Its consensus reads, "Heartfelt without resorting to preachiness, Amistad tells an important story with engaging sensitivity and absorbing skill. Film crews spent four days there and employed around 300 extras[11] Numerous scenes were filmed in Newport, Rhode Island. New York abolished slavery in 1799. An early Matthew McConaughey is quite good as the lawyer and future politician Roger Sherman Baldwin, and an ever-reliable Morgan Freeman submits fine work as the abolitionist Theodore Joadson. Freed slave Theodore Joadson wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin to help his case. After Hounsou read the speech in English, Goun and further learned it in Mende, Spielberg was impressed enough that he cast him in the role of Cinqu. Mr. Spielberg gets so carried away with his integrationist myth that he even has Joadson and Sengbe visit John Quincy Adams at his home, an event that never took place. : The latter is available on the NAXOS audio book Great Speeches in History, 1996 (ISBN 9626340835); Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation is online at http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/22082 and the Gettysburg Address is available at http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4. District Attorney William Holabird doubts that Cinques tale is true and claims that it makes no sense. These teaching notes are based on the lectures and workshops of the U.S. Embassy Teacher Academy Lincolns Legacy: Nation Building, Democracy and the Question of Race and Civil Rights and will refer to them. Captured, they are imprisoned in New England where former slave Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman), viewing the rebels as "freedom fighters," approaches property lawyer Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey), who attempts to prove the Africans were "stolen goods" because they were kidnapped. Right? Amistad, shortcomings and all, is solid, engrossing. One of the Africans is shown looking at pictures in the Bible. [6], The entire film was completed in 51 days and cost around $39 million. Baldwin calls Captain Fitzgerald of the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron to corroborate Cinqu's testimony. At least, they certainly don't look it. _____ PART B (DURING VIEWING) /60 points Task One /5 points What are a few outstanding elements of character, tone, and gesture which the actor Morgan Freeman brings into the role of Theodore Joadson? Second, their presence created a carnival-like atmosphere, which the white abolitionists took advantage of by putting the Africans on display like animals in a zoo. John Quincy Adams A lawyer named Roger Sherman Baldwin, hired by the abolitionist Tappan and his black associate Joadson decides to defend the Africans. Kale. The judge is impressed and signals his intention to dismiss the US and Spanish governments' case and release the captives. I know you and your Presidency as well as any man - and your father's. If so, why? Joadson seeks advice from Adams, who tells him that court cases are usually won by the side with the best 'story'. The case was ultimately resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1841. Amistad is a 1997 American historical drama film based on the true story of the mutiny that occurred aboard La Amistad (Spanish for "friendship") in 1839. : The justices rule in favor of the Africans in an eight-to-one decision. However, no mention is made of the fact that an earlier Judson ruling put a damper on attempts to educate black children in Connecticut for years. Blog Home Uncategorized theodore joadson role in amistad. Local abolitionists take up their case and hire a young and inexperienced real estate lawyer to represent them. A group of religious people come and pray in front of the prison and sing Amazing Grace. (For background information on the role of religion see: Evangelical Religion and Evangelical Democracy by David Goldfield.). [to John Quincy Adams] In April of 1839, a group of militant Portuguese abducted a group of 53 Africans and shipped them to Havana, Cuba. If you find out something about them, their story will become interesting. Interpret Adams statement. This distortion is brought about in part through Theodore Joadson, a fictional character played by Morgan Freeman, who is supposed to represent a composite of black folks in New England during . [7] Hounsou auditioned with the hope of landing just a small role[6] and said he was not aware of the story before securing the role. This speech is very impressive. This news - well of course it's bad news - but the truth is they may be more valuable to our struggle in death than in life. Theodore Joadson Monologues. While listening to the speech for a second time take down notes about the rhetorical devices that are used. The arraignment is day after tomorrow. : Technical Specs, [holding up a nursery plant with tender branches], Ebony Magazine - Top Black Movies of All Times, November 1998 (25). Would you personally choose anyone else to play this part? . He enters into a discussion with Tappan and Joadson on the issue of whether they were illegally acquired and whether they are to be considered material goods or human beings. Baldwin, unable to converse directly with his clients due to the language barrier, suspects the slaves are not Cubans but Africans who have been kidnapped and transported illegally as part of the banned transatlantic slave trade. : Tappan Keep in mind that seven of the nine Supreme Court Justices are Southern slave owners. Amistad is a true story about 53 African slaves mutinying aboard a Spanish slave ship off the coast of Cuba in 1839. Amistads problems go far deeper than such anachronisms as President Martin Van Buren campaigning for reelection on a whistle-stop train tour (in 1840, candidates did not campaign), or people constantly talking about the coming Civil War, which lay twenty years in the future. During the film's development, John Quincy Adams, the African lawyer, was the first to file a brief in support . Morgan Freeman as Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman) "I am embarrassed to admit that I was under . Hopkins reportedly wept once the scene was completed. The leading British abolitionist politician of this era was William Wilberforce (17591833). "[21], The film debuted at No. It is a film based on the true story. There are at least two scenes that contain graphic violence. There were fewer slaves in the North, where they mostly worked as servants. Likewise, Maryland's own Roger B. Taney, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that ruled to free the Amistad Africans in 1841, would in 1857 hand down the infamous Dred Scott decision, declaring: "The black man has no rights that the white man is bound to respect.