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A 2006 biopic on famous abolitionist William Wilberforce, and his fight to demolish Britain's slave trade, starring Ioan Gruffudd, Romola Garai and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Not to be confused with Amazing Freaking Grace, the actual song.
- Amazing Freaking Grace
- Babies Ever After William and Barbara.
- Beleaguered Bureaucrat: Wilberforce's entire struggle to abolish slavery is more or less this.
- Pitt tries to help out Wilberforce's cause in the House of Commons (by threatening to shoot an MP for him) but the MP more or less brushes him off. Later on, when a sick Wilberforce tries to get Pitt--now Prime Minister--to read his bill for him, Pitt says he can't openly support abolition while the revolution in France is going on. He does help out in the end, though.
- Deadpan Snarker:
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One of Wilberforce's supporters: I sent a note of thanks to those who voted for us. |
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- Engaging Conversation: William and Barbara.
- Fiery Redhead: Barbara.
- Friend to All Living Things: Wilberforce is a bit ... extreme about having pets.
- Gentleman Snarker: Most Parliament scenes are basically a group of these having a Snarkfest Showdown.
- Heel Face Turn: Charles Fox deciding to join up with the abolitionists: "I spent 18 months being torn apart in the House by you, Mr. Wilberforce. I thought I'd find out what it feels like on your side. Any of you saints drink?"
- Heel Faith Turn: A very mild version, and Wilberforce was already against slavery beforehand, but his crusade really kicks into high gear after he finds God.
- Heroes Want Redheads
- Historical Beauty Update: William Wilberforce was, unsurprisingly, not so good-looking as Ioan Gruffudd. And the real Thomas Clarkson was, according to nearly all his portraits, slightly overweight, while Rufus Sewell was definitely not.
- Historical Hero Upgrade: As pointed out in the link.
- Ho Yay: Pitt and Wilberforce. Full stop. Clarkson and Equiano get minor shades of this, when Clarkson weeps at Equiano's grave.
- Insult Backfire:
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Duke of Clarence: Revolution is like the pox. It spreads from person to person. |
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- Leave the Two Lovebirds Alone: William and Barbara are shoved at each other at every single possible opportunity. Neither is amused. They end up together anyway.
- Servile Snarker: Richard, Wilberforce's butler.
- Shaming the Mob: Wilberforce wines and dines a bunch of important people on a shipdeck, complete with a fancy music quartet, and then sails them straight past the Madagascar--a slave ship. It works.