Selma (2014)

This film had a profound effect on me, because it packs so much heart and emotion into a subject that tarnishes the concept of equality amongst humanity. As I watched, entranced by the murder and corruption faced by MLK and the people of Selma, I thought about what it means to be equal. Equality – such a basic right, and one that I and almost every person in our modern, technology-driven world take for granted. The right to vote, the right to freedom, the right to privacy, the right to life. We, each and every human among us, have 30 basic human rights. Do you know them? I know I don’t, not all of them anyway. Which seems such a waste of all of the struggles that our ancestors have suffered. Such a waste of the tears and torture they endured. This is what I thought of as I finished watching this inspiring film. My own place in this world and what I choose to do with it. Will I waste it? Or will I rise above myself and my insecurities and everything that might knock me down and become something great and something I can be proud of, just as Martin Luther King did in the face of adversity?

That’s the Martin Luther King affect I guess. That man inspired so many with his words, and that can be seen in this chronicle of the march he lead from Selma to Montgomery as he campaigned to secure equal voting rights for the black citizens of the notoriously racist Alabama state , despite the violence and death that plagued his path. It is an unflinching biopic of the corruption that stood in his way, and the personal struggles he battled throughout this great cause. Writer Paul Webb does a good job of presenting the life of MLK on many different strands, from his passion to promote change to how he maintained his family life on top of this.

The film begins in 1964 with Martin Luther King receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent civil rights movement, and moves quickly to his relationship with the President of the United States – Lyndon Johnson. Both men have very different agendas, both noble, but both different. Johnson wants to tackle the War on Poverty with King at his side, but King sees a greater cause in changing legislation in order to remove the barriers that prevent African-Americans from participating in their right to vote. For much of the film, these men fight one another in what honestly feels like a game of chicken. King demands support from the President, and urges him to realise that it is his duty as the elected representative of the people to actually represent the people. Johnson has different priorities though, and so we witness as the people take to march. The first march is unsuccessful as the non-violent protestors are viciously attacked with batons and tear gas. As this scene plays out, being narrated by a white broadcaster clearly horrified at the grotesque and inhumane torture he witnesses, we as viewers sit entranced and sickened. To acknowledge that this event actually took place, that innocent people with no intention of fighting back were savagely beaten, that this is not just something made up by a clever writer who knows how to elicit a reaction, is upsetting to say the least. It is an event in history that we must not forget though, because to forget would be to disregard the suffering, the hard work and the determination of a brave collective.

What I admired about this film was that it didn’t just give a straight-up biopic of the man’s life. It concentrated on one specific fight and in doing so gave the story a voice and integrity that allow it to be heard and seen more forcefully. Like Invictus and Lincoln before it, the political follies and processes were captured without pandering to the audience. I didn’t feel like I was being taught a lesson, which is to say I didn’t feel bored or put upon by the film, but rather I was intrigued and desperate to know more about this period of history. The fact that we get to see the political cunning of King alongside his compassion is interesting, because it depicts just how clever this man was to be able to inspire so many. King has a strong voice, and the actor portraying him, David Oyelowo, captures this brilliantly. Oyelowo has had a career in film and stage for 16 years, and yet this is his first major motion picture, which is frankly surprising as hell. His performance perhaps wasn’t as memorable as similar films with similar agendas, but the quiet energy and passion with which he delivers each line is a clear indicator that this man’s talents have been overlooked for too long. The fact that he isn’t well known though was something I really liked about this film. In fact none of the main cast were big, knock-out stars (with the exception of a small role played by Oprah Winfrey, who also acted as producer for the film) which added an authenticity to it. It made it seem more real and made the struggle of the people more painful to watch as they continued to try to march and met hostility at every turn. Maybe that’s just a peculiarity of mine, but sometimes when I’m watching a heartrending moment in film I suddenly remember that I’m watching big “movie star” actors and think “Oh wait, Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t really die in the icy depths of the Atlantic ocean. He’s an actor. It’s fine. Stop freaking out. No seriously Rachel, stop crying… You’re embarrassing yourself with your unhealthy attachment”. Is that just me? (I think I already know the answer to be honest). Back to the point though, watching a relatively unknown cast play out these real life horrors made the film more authentic, and had me crying for most of it. No wonder there is so much Oscar buzz surrounding the film.

I’m gonna end on a note that seems extremely appropriate given the subject of the film. Sorry if it seems irritating but after I’d watched Selma it really made me think (as I’ve said for like the thousandth time now). So here it is:

Think about equality. Think about humanity. What does it deserve? To be treated with kindness and respect? Yes. Not to face ridicule because of gender or sexuality or any other kind of preference? Yes. I might sound naïve, but I don’t care. If there is one thing everybody could do with a bit more of, its compassion, as Martin Luther King practiced and taught throughout his life.

Here are our 30 basic human rights…

(You might be surprised by how many you didn’t know and how obvious they seem in retrospect)

1. We are all free and equal. We are all born free. We all have our own thoughts and ideas. We should all be treated in the same way.

2. Don’t discriminate. These rights belong to everybody, whatever our differences.

3. The right to life. We all have the right to life, and to live in freedom and safety.

4. No slavery – past and present. Nobody has any right to make us a slave. We cannot make anyone our slave.

5. No Torture. Nobody has any right to hurt us or to torture us.

6. We all have the same right to use the law. I am a person just like you!

7. We are all protected by the law. The law is the same for everyone. It must treat us all fairly.

8. Fair treatment by fair courts. We can all ask for the law to help us when we are not treated fairly.

9. No unfair detainment. Nobody has the right to put us in prison without a good reason and keep us there, or to send us away from our country.

10. The right to trial. If we are put on trial this should be in public. The people who try us should not let anyone tell them what to do.

11. Innocent until proven guilty. Nobody should be blamed for doing something until it is proven. When people say we did a bad thing we have the right to show it is not true.

12. The right to privacy. Nobody should try to harm our good name. Nobody has the right to come into our home, open our letters or bother us or our family without a good reason.

13. Freedom to move. We all have the right to go where we want in our own country and to travel as we wish.

14. The right to asylum. If we are frightened of being badly treated in our own country, we all have the right to run away to another country to be safe.

15. The right to a nationality. We all have the right to belong to a country.

16. Marriage and family. Every grown-up has the right to marry and have a family if they want to. Men and women have the same rights when they are married, and when they are separated.

17. Your own things. Everyone has the right to own things or share them. Nobody should take our things from us without a good reason.

18. Freedom of thought. We all have the right to believe in what we want to believe, to have a religion, or to change it if we want.

19. Free to say what you want. We all have the right to make up our own minds, to think what we like, to say what we think, and to share our ideas with other people.

20. Meet where you like. We all have the right to meet our friends and to work together in peace to defend our rights. Nobody can make us join a group if we don’t want to.

21. The right to democracy. We all have the right to take part in the government of our country. Every grown-up should be allowed to choose their own leaders.

22. The right to social security. We all have the right to affordable housing, medicine, education, and child care, enough money to live on and medical help if we are ill or old.

23. Workers’ rights. Every grown-up has the right to do a job, to a fair wage for their work, and to join a trade union.

24. The right to play. We all have the right to rest from work and to relax.

25. A bed and some food. We all have the right to a good life. Mothers and children, people who are old, unemployed or disabled, and all people have the right to be cared for.

26. The right to education. Education is a right. Primary school should be free. We should learn about the United Nations and how to get on with others. Our parents can choose what we learn.

27. Culture and copyright. Copyright is a special law that protects one’s own artistic creations and writings; others cannot make copies without permission. We all have the right to our own way of life and to enjoy the good things that “art,” science and learning bring.

28. A free and fair world. There must be proper order so we can all enjoy rights and freedoms in our own country and all over the world.

29. Our responsibilities. We have a duty to other people, and we should protect their rights and freedoms.

30. Nobody can take away these rights and freedoms from us.

* List provided by Youth For Human Rights International, adapted and simplified from the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights - See more at: http://www.samaritanmag.com/we-have-30-basic-human-rights-do-you-know-them#sthash.lYmYsciP.dpuf