new movie release, Streaming on Apple TV+, starring Will Smith, is a scorching historical drama. Above all, it brings to life in raw, visceral detail the horrors of American slavery and its terrifying effects on the minds and bodies of those trapped under its rule.
At the same time, it’s also a story about survival, bolstered by Will Smith’s strong performance. It joins the ranks of many other similar films, many of which help illuminate this terrifying time.
Django Unchained (2012)
stream on prime video
For many people django unchained One of Quentin Tarantino’s best films. Filled with violence and featuring his distinctive style, this production is underpinned by Jamie Foxx’s career-best performance.
Of course, the film does not shy away from the atrocities of slavery and its effects on the human psyche. But Spaghetti uses his Western conventions to imagine a scenario where a slave can finally take revenge on those who made his life miserable and separated himself from his wife.
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Stream on HBO Max
Like Emancipation, 12 Years of Slavery It’s a film about both the horrors of slavery and the indelible nature of the human psyche. Particularly affecting is its focus on a free African-American man who is sold into slavery after being kidnapped in New York.
The fact that it’s based on a true story gives it raw, emotional authenticity. And it doesn’t hesitate to show how cruel slavery was while still giving the main character a happy ending, no wonder it remains one of the best movies of the 2010s for many. is not.
Harriet (2019)
Stream on HBO Max
Hollywood has a lot of great biopics. Harriet Worth watching as one of these. After all, Harriet, one of her most famous figures in the movement to free African Americans from the horrors of slavery, depicts the life of her Tubman.
Like release and many similar films are based on strong realism. It also features a very powerful performance from Cynthia Erivo, who delves deep into the soul of this extraordinary woman. Plus, its propulsive narrative keeps viewers invested and engaged from the first frame to the last.
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
Stream on Netflix
release is one of the must-see movies in the future for anyone wanting to understand the history of America’s race. Although set in a more recent part of American history in the 1970s, If Beale Street could talk It accomplishes something similar by focusing on a young African-American man who is wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit.
It’s a visually and emotionally stimulating film that doesn’t shy away from the more sinister aspects of its story, but also shows the enduring power of love. No, and tragic – is something that sticks in the viewer’s mind long after the movie is over.
Birth of a Nation (2016)
stream on prime video
birth of a nation It is an exceptional historical drama. It draws its title from director DW Griffith’s infamous racist epic and focuses on one of the most significant riots in U.S. history: the slave rebellion led by Nat Turner.
Like release, It’s one of those movies that features both a very strong script and a moving performance from Nate Parker (who also wrote and directed it). Rigorously rooted in history and laced with religious messages, this film is one of those that truly sheds light on a pivotal moment in history.
Lincoln (2012)
Stream on YouTube
Throughout his career, Steven Spielberg has had an almost uncanny ability to navigate different genres. Lincoln, He gives viewers a sweeping and moving portrait of Abraham Lincoln, allowing them to subtly appreciate his own contribution to the passage of the 13th Amendment.
as in Liberation, Lincoln It’s a film based on both rich historical detail and great performances, in this case delivered by Daniel Day-Lewis. It provides a rich and complex experience for one of the key moments.
Amistad (1997)
Stream on YouTube
Amistad Definitely one of Steven Spielberg’s best films. It focuses on a group of slaves who hijack a ship that transports them to America, and then causes legal and international crises. But the film never loses sight of the profound human story at its heart.
Like release, This film highlights the evils of slavery. But like the new film, it shows the extraordinary strength so many men and women have shown as they rebelled against a system that worked relentlessly to dehumanize them.
Glory (1989)
stream on prime video
glory It has come to be seen as one of the best movies about the American Civil War. However, unlike many other similar films, it focuses on the important role that African Americans played in that conflict, specifically the Massachusetts 54th Infantry Regiment.
It especially features great performances by Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman. It doesn’t lose sight of the fact that it’s a story about the Civil War, but where it truly succeeds is its emphasis on the inner workings of its characters, portraying all the complexities of human nature.
Queen (2022)
Stream with Vudu
Since its launch, queen She plays the character of Naniska, one of the formidable female warriors known as Agojie.
Like release, It’s a provocative and at times brutal film, but it’s remarkable how it gives attention to these powerful women who have been underrepresented in cinema. Together, they create a compelling whole that shows the extraordinary role women can and do play in the history of a nation.
Moonlight (2016)
Stream on Hulu
moonlight Widely regarded as one of the best films of the 2010s. A haunting, beautifully told, and emotionally resonant tale of a young African-American man’s struggle with sexuality, it remains a testament to the power of cinema to tell LGBTQ+ stories.
Like release, Chiron in particular can be difficult to watch, as he has to deal with the violence of his own world. At the same time, there is also a basic optimism at the heart of the film, repeatedly emphasizing the importance of human connection.
