AMISTAD
In a moving courtroom scene, heavily praised by critics, the chained Sengbe Pieh arises from his seat in the defendant’s box and speaks his first lines in English. Knowing only Mende, he bravely begins a chant which both surprises, softens and scares the rest of the court.
ALAMY X4, GETTY X1
Darkness envelops the screen. Slowly, a small light illuminates the scene, revealing the frantic struggle of Sengbe Pieh (Djimon Hounsou), an African taken prisoner on the slave ship La Amistad. Using a nail to pick the lock on his chains, the man frees the rest of his people and they swarm onto the deck armed with knives, the rain falling down around them. Chaos erupts. In pure rage, the rebel leader plunges his weapon into the heart of the Spanish captain, bellowing as he looms over the bleeding body of his captor.