‘Selma’ opens in cinemas
JOHANNESBURG – 'Selma', the movie that has been snubbed for Oscar nominations, opens in South Africa soon.
CAST
David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Oprah Winfrey, Carmen Ejogo
DIRECTOR
Ava Duvernay
PRODUCERS
Christian Colson, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardener, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey
Selma, the historical drama about the struggle of the African-Americans, opens in cinemas on 6 February. It tells the story of Dr Martin Luther King’s historic struggle to secure voting rights for African-Americans.
It narrates a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated in the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama that galvanised American public opinion and persuaded President Johnson to introduce the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
Movie director Ava Duvernay gives Coretta Scott-King, Martin’s wife, a voice that has not been heard enough.
The legendary Oprah Winfrey brings forth her role of the human rights activist, Annie Lee Cooper.
One would argue that, racial, emotive and historical movies that depict struggles of those who were oppressed, have
been at the forefront of this century.
This movie reminds me of ,one of the 12 Years a slave, Mandela, the long walk to freedom, Malcolm X and many other historical films that have touched and brought discussions of racism and injustices to the fore; legendary actors whose portrayal puts a lump in your throat.
It makes you think of the sacrifices that those before us made to fight human injustices.
It comes at the right time – the Civil Rights Movement celebrates its 50th anniversary of this pivotal moment.
