The film “Selma,” about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is one of the most inspirational films I have seen in a long time. This is due to the actors in the film, such as David Oyelowo (Martin Luther King Jr.), Oprah Winfrey (Annie Cooper), Carmen Ejogo (Coretta King), and Tom Wilkinson (President Lyndon Johnson).
“Selma” is not about the life of Dr. King, in general, but focuses on the issue of voting rights in Selma, Alabama. This film provided an honest portrayal of what happened in Selma, and the actors invite the audience to feel as if they are actual witnesses to history. The film shows the horrible conditions that Dr. King’s followers endured and the horrific ways they were treated. “Selma” does not hold anything back when it comes to showing the violence that occurred, from the brutal beating of Annie Lee Cooper (Winfrey) during a protest, to the murder of four innocent girls in a church.
The film begins with Annie Cooper sitting in a courthouse filling out the form to be a registered voter. The camera focuses specifically on the form in order to show that one of the requirements is to fill out one’s race. I found this to be quite important because although Selma technically opened voting to everyone, there were very cruel restrictions against African-American citizens.
After she fills out the form, she brings it to the worker, hoping she will gain the ability to vote. However, she is not granted this right. The white worker asks her a series of rude and specific questions to which most Americans would not know the answers, such as to recite the preamble to the Constitution. This moment is one of my favorite parts of the film, because this scene sets the mood for the entire film. Cooper’s struggle is broadened to a wider scale to thousands of African-Americans across the US.
But, what I enjoyed most about this film was David Oyelowo’s portrayal of Dr. King. I feel that Oyelowo made this film and gave it the great reputation that it has. Oyelowo closely resembled Dr. King, and exuded his true essence. He captivates the audience from the very beginning of the film, whether it’s giving a speech or simply standing silently during a protest. Oyelowo’s Dr. King had the raw emotion and passion that I pictured the actual Dr. King to have, and I felt that he did the King family justice with this film.
“Selma” deserves five out of five stars, hands down. As the credits began to roll, I sat stunned in my seat and at a loss for words. It was remarkable. I did not know whether to cry or smile, because the film was so wonderful.
This film should be an inspiration to all, and it’s well worth spending two hours of your day watching.
