Amazing Grace Analysis

The use of light and dark played a huge part in the movie Amazing Grace in helping the audience feel the movie; the emotions of the characters, the moods and attitudes of the world they were living in. As the movie starts, it is dark and raining, we see a man beating his horse and the ill William Wilberforce has his carriage stopped so he can have the men stop beating their horse. The opening, dark and dreary, sets the stage for the depression and disappointment William feels about his lack of success in stopping the trade of slaves in England. While the movie is a little difficult to follow with flashbacks, dreams moving the timeline back and forth, William has a brief moment of lightness. He meets his future wife, in a well-lit location, …show more content…
As he delves deeper into the inner workings of the slave trade, the movie continues to be dark. There is little candle light but it does little to illuminate the world around him. He visits the docks at night, and goes aboard the dimly lit ship. He sees first-hand the terrible conditions the slaves live in as they are brought to England. He sees and feels the black shackles used to bound them on their journey. The darkness all around helps fuel the feelings of anger, and despair as he continues to fight the uphill battle. The movie depicts an addiction to laudanum, which he uses to battle the effects of health issues. Many scenes are of William in a bedroom, given doses by physicians treating his insomnia and pain. When he tried to break his addiction it is always dark, with flickering lights, allowing the audience to feel his pain and agony. As his group of comrades with Thomas Clarkson, Charles Fox and Olaudah Equino slowly gain support and momentum the lighting in the movie gradually gets brighter. The battle for victory is far from over and the mood and lighting continues to follow William and his flashbacks as they deal with minor victories and major setbacks with the war with France putting a major hold on their