Film Review: Selma
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Released in 2014, Selma is easily one of the best films of the past five years.
The historical drama, directed by Ava DuVernay, follows the fight for the 1965 Voting Rights Act for black Americans. In particular, Selma focuses on the iconic fifty-mile march from Selma to Montgomery led by Martin Luther King Jr., James Bevel, Hosea Williams and John Lewis all while incorporating features of King’s marriage to Corretta and the true emotions felt by those who were caught up in the violence and tragedy that came hand-in-hand with the civil rights movement.
When watching Selma, one of the first things you notice is how stunning David Oyelowo’s portrayal of Martin Luther King is. Capturing the essence of such an influential and powerful man is no easy task and one wonders how Oyelowo was able to do it. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he claimed to approach Dr King “first and foremost as a man”, which is clear in Selma as King is often portrayed in an almost ‘behind-the-scenes’ way in which he appears to care about the people, not the politics or even himself.
Another fantastic thing (especially for those studying History at GCSE level in particular) about DuVernay’s critically acclaimed film is the historical accuracy, as seen when Oprah Winfrey’s character Annie Lee Cooper attempts to register to vote. Asked impossible questions and denied the right to vote at the beginning of the film, it is not just the struggle of one black woman, but the struggle of most black Americans as many states chose to ignore the ruling that legalised equal voting.
Selma is a thoroughly moving and deeply interesting film, following the journey undertaken by King and the people of Selma to get the vote for all black Americans. At the end of the film, the footage of the real march (which included whites as well as blacks) over the Edmund Pettus Bridge emits a strong air of pride and power for all. It is a must-watch film for those who enjoy a modern yet accurate adaptation of key events in history. And if that’s not enough to sway you, have a listen to the original song by John Legend and Common here.