At The Movies

Amazing Grace is the story of William Wilburforce's fight to have the British slave-trade abolished. The film also depicts the influence of John Newton and his hymn "Amazing Grace". Newton was a slave trader who had a dramatic conversion during a storm at sea and became a pastor and hymn writer. The song "Amazing Grace" is perhaps the most well known hymn in the world and has been recorded by the likes of Pete Seeger, Aretha Franklin and Judy Collins and was sung by Arlo Guthrie at Woodstock. While on the "trail of tears", the Cherokee were not always able to give their dead a full burial. Instead, the singing of "Amazing Grace" had to suffice. Since then, "Amazing Grace" is often considered the Cherokee National Anthem.

The film is premiering at theaters throughout the US on February 23, the 200th anniversary of the date slavery was abolished in England. The Amazing Change Campaign to end the slave trade in the world today is being launched to coincide with the release of the film.