Amistad (1997)
Based on the events in 1839, Amistad (1997) is an American historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg. It depicts the story of Mende tribesmen who were abducted for the slave trade aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad. The men managed to overpower their captors and take control of the ship off the coast of Cuba. This led to an international legal battle after their capture by a U.S. revenue cutter named Washington. Eventually, the case was resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1841. The film follows Cinqué, a captive who leads an uprising against the crew, resulting in most of them being killed. Pedro Montes and Jose Ruiz, two navigators, are spared under the condition that they help sail the ship back to Africa. However, they are betrayed and taken into U.S. waters where they are stopped and arrested by the Washington crew.
After a complicated legal dispute arises concerning the group of slaves, United States Attorney William S. Holabird presses charges of piracy and murder against them. However, these charges are later dismissed due to the fact that the killings took place outside of United States territorial waters. In the aftermath, a civil case ensues in which Montes and Ruiz claim ownership of the Amistad Africans, while two officers from the Washington claim salvage rights over them. The Spanish government, acting under the Treaty of 1795 (also known as Pinckney’s Treaty), intervenes in support of Montes and Ruiz. President Martin Van Buren is then forced to direct his Secretary of State John Forsyth to side with the Spanish claim in order to prevent any potential diplomatic conflicts. Meanwhile, abolitionist Lewis Tappan and his associate Theodore Joadson (a former slave) determine to aid the captives.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Djimon HounsouCinque  Matthew McConaugheyRoger Sherman Baldwin  Anthony HopkinsJohn Quincy Adams  Morgan FreemanTheodore Joadson  Nigel HawthornePresident Martin Van Buren  David PaymerSecretary John Forsyth  Pete PostlethwaiteHolabird  Stellan SkarsgårdTappan |
Based on the events in 1839, Amistad (1997) is an American historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg. It depicts the story of Mende tribesmen who were abducted for the slave trade aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad. The men managed to overpower their captors and take control of the ship off the coast of Cuba. This led to an international legal battle after their capture by a U.S. revenue cutter named Washington. Eventually, the case was resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1841. The film follows Cinqué, a captive who leads an uprising against the crew, resulting in most of them being killed. Pedro Montes and Jose Ruiz, two navigators, are spared under the condition that they help sail the ship back to Africa. However, they are betrayed and taken into U.S. waters where they are stopped and arrested by the Washington crew.
After a complicated legal dispute arises concerning the group of slaves, United States Attorney William S. Holabird presses charges of piracy and murder against them. However, these charges are later dismissed due to the fact that the killings took place outside of United States territorial waters. In the aftermath, a civil case ensues in which Montes and Ruiz claim ownership of the Amistad Africans, while two officers from the Washington claim salvage rights over them. The Spanish government, acting under the Treaty of 1795 (also known as Pinckney’s Treaty), intervenes in support of Montes and Ruiz. President Martin Van Buren is then forced to direct his Secretary of State John Forsyth to side with the Spanish claim in order to prevent any potential diplomatic conflicts. Meanwhile, abolitionist Lewis Tappan and his associate Theodore Joadson (a former slave) determine to aid the captives.
