Emancipation (2022)
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A slave in the 1860s must navigate dangerous swamps and evade ruthless hunters to reach freedom following the Emancipation Proclamation.
The story
In 1863, a slave named Peter is forcibly removed from his home on a Louisiana cotton plantation. He is taken to a Confederate encampment where he endures grueling labor and cruel treatment. After a moment of defiance leads to an uprising, Peter and several other slaves escape into the nearby swamps. They are pursued by a ruthless slave hunter named Fassel and his men. With no supplies and a desperate situation, Peter must navigate the treacherous terrain and evade his pursuers as he attempts to reach the safety of Union-held Baton Rouge.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1863, a slave named Peter is seized from his family on a Louisiana plantation and taken to a Confederate encampment. After enduring brutal conditions, he joins a group of slaves in an uprising and flees into the swamps. They are hunted by Fassel, a ruthless slave hunter. During the escape, some are captured or killed. Peter eventually faces Fassel in a final confrontation near Baton Rouge; he is ultimately saved by a member of the 1st Louisiana Native Guard. After being treated in a Union hospital, a photo of his scarred back is distributed to garner support for the abolition of slavery. Peter then enlists in the Native Guard, where he serves with bravery, is promoted, and eventually reunites with his wife, Dodienne, and their children. The film concludes with a note that over four million slaves were freed by the end of the war in 1865.
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 132
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Antoine Fuqua
- Writers
- William N. Collage · writer
- Cast and characters
- Will Smith · Peter; Ben Foster · Fassel; Charmaine Bingwa · Dodienne; Jayson Warner Smith · John Lyons; Austin Alexander · Trapp; Britton Webb · Bijoux; Jesse C. Boyd · Mike Hurley; Steven Ogg · Ordnance Sergeant Howard
- Genres
- action; drama; thriller
- Themes
- slavery; freedom; survival
- Tone and mood
- tense; historical
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; action; escape
- Source material / true-story basis
- The life of a self-emancipated slave, known as either Gordon or 'Whipped Peter'.
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Will Smith's performance but criticized the screenplay and its handling of real-life events.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 53 · scale: 100 · review count: 41
- Production trivia
- The film was based on a story made famous by a 1863 photograph of a man's scarred back.; The film was shot in New Orleans.; The score was described as 'spiritual and untraditional'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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