FILM... through our EYES!!!

INTRODUCTION
The movie “Great Debaters” is a true-life story of a group of people from Wiley College, Texas that changed lives by their debates. This story is set in the twentieth century precisely 1935 and is aimed at portraying the ills of the society at the time. It is also about the fight for equality between the blacks and white especially for mixed schools that is, blacks and whites learning together. It shows the passion that was involved in the fight and mirrors the society.

The movie moves on from one point of suspense to another and finally hits a wonderful climax. The movie was produced by Oprah Winfrey studios known as Harpo and she was one of the financiers and also one of the producers. The actors were mainly black people and the movie had a field of talented stars and upcoming stars involved in the work. The actors and actresses were Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, Gina Ravera, John Heard, and Kimberly Elise among others.

ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT DEBATERS
The movie is analysed below into various categories-:
• Themes: this is the central idea behind the movie. There are various themes found in this movie like Determination, Fight for equality between blacks and white, Courage, Passion for a change in society, Civil Disobedience, etc. the necessary themes would be analysed.
a. Fight for equality between blacks and whites-: this was the main theme in the film and it was obvious all through even when the debaters from Wiley College were having debates with their fellow black they always related the topic to inequality and social injustice displayed towards the black people.
b. Passion for a change in the society-: the debaters had a passion and zeal to see a better America with mixed schools and where blacks were not killed because they were just black. This was shown by Samantha Booke when she was debating and crying and stomping her feet. Also, the passionate appeal that characterized Henry Lowe’s speech each time he took the floor. James Farmer Jnr. Also displayed this in his final debate in Harvard.

• Narratives-: the movie embedded two narratives in one; this is their debates and their personal lives. This was displayed at the beginning of the movie where each of them was shown, James in church, Henry in a club of some sort and Samantha in a bus. Also, the movie cheated the viewer’s expectation by Samantha and Henry breaking up and unable to work out their differences. Additionally, the fact that Samantha did not end up with James Farmer that liked her was a cheated expectation. The fact that Hamilton had to leave the group was a cheated expectation. The movie also made the viewer’s presume or infer that Henry Lowe and Samantha settled their scores and could move on as friends after their relationship went sour. Also, “we do what we have to do so we can do what we want to do” was said in the movie that inferred that it has been used between the Farmers father and son time and again

• Emotions and feelings-: “Great Debaters” portrayed a lot of feelings like love, passion, zeal, anger, desperation and a host of others.
a. Love was displayed by Samantha and Henry, they grew fond of each other very quickly from the point of their supposed date in the boat henceforth. Also, James liked Samantha a lot this was the reason he was upset when Henry slept with her. Mr. Tolson and his wife were portrayed as very close and trusting of each other. Love was displayed in the close-knit family of the Farmers.
b. Passion and zeal: this was shown when each of the debaters took the stage. Also, the passion, Mr. Tolson, had for the change in the society led him on to teach and debate.
c. Anger: James Jnr. was shown angry at various points in the movie, some instances are when Henry slept with Samantha, when Henry cheated on Samantha and when the White man asked his father to pay for the pig. His father was shown angry when he got back home and refused to state where he was coming from.
d. Desperation: this was shown when the debaters and Mr. Tolson were travelling and met a lynch mob. Also, when the police attacked the sharecroppers.

• Cause and Effect-: the background of Mr. Tolson especially his father’s experience shaped him into becoming hardened and determined to effect change. Also, the background of Henry Lowe that is, living alone without parents and no one to look after him made him become independent, self-reliant and unable to trust. The lynching mob experience made James Jnr. lose the debate because he was still shaken and that experience also made him win the Harvard debate.

• Similarity and Repetition-: there were words and phrases that were repeated all over the movie like “resolved” it was said before the debates began and when Samantha slapped Henry. Also, “an unjust law is no law at all” was said by James Snr. and later repeated by James Jnr. in the debate with Harvard. Also, there was a statement that Mr. Tolson taught the four debaters which is:
Who is the Judge? The judge is God? And why is it God? Because he decides who wins or loses not my opponent And who is your opponent? He doesn’t exist And why doesn’t he exist? Because he is the mute dissenting voice to the truth that I speak Speak the truth
They repeated this statement before they went for the debate against Harvard. There was a similarity between characters and that is Henry Lowe and Mr. Tolson; they are both domineering, decisive, thorough, hard workers, passionate, poets and readers.

• Differences and Variation: the debaters went to debate basically because they had a passion for it, winning was an extra addition. Also, Henry Lowe’s behavior varies from the rest of the team who are emotional, he is focused. This was shown in the scene were Samantha and James Jnr. arrived at Harvard while everyone is jumping about at the stage he goes straight to the cup. Furthermore, he shows a variance when despite his hardened front; he still has tears in his eyes while reconciling with his team mates.

• Depth of Story treatment: it was obvious that James Farmer was still thinking about the lynching incidence while in the debate and that is why he could not speak. It was also obvious that he was thinking about the lynching incidence in Harvard but was relating to it instead. Also, during the party, the viewers were taken into his mind when he was imagining himself dancing, twining and kissing Samantha. This further proved to the audience the depth of his affections towards her.

• Function of Element/ Motif-: each of the debates was a satirical topic on the society. They show the social vices that were against the black people at that time. The debates were a means of seeking for solutions to alleviate the problems in the society. This movie shows that experiences shape a person and determines who the person is or turns out to be. This is seen in the instances of Mr. Tolson and Henry Lowe. It emphasizes the need for a close-knit family as James Farmer had a support to run home to when things go wrong.

• Cinematography-: there were several camera shots used in the movie like Crane shot, high angle, point of view, etc.

a. Crane shot: it was used at the beginning of the movie to familiarize the audience with the environment before it takes them to the main scene.
b. High Angle shot: it was used during the Harvard debate to show Mr. Tolson.
c. Close-up shot: was used during James Jnr. first debate that he could not speak, the camera zoomed in on his face to show him sweating.
d. Point of View: when Henry was climbing the Harvard stage and looking at the cup, the camera showed the cup to let the viewers’ see what he was looking at.

• Suspense-: this movie was suspense-packed all through, from the beginning till the end, it left the viewers’ anticipating more and cheating their expectations. There were so many scenes that were filled with suspense, for instance, when the Harvard debate scores was to be called out. When the debaters disagreed before the debate, when James Jnr. was supposed to speak for the Harvard debate, the fight between Henry Lowe and the big man at the beginning, when the Police officers attacked the sharecroppers, when James Snr. hit the white man’s pig, when Mr. Tolson was arrested and many more.

• Mis en scene-:  this element explains certain necessary features in the movie and how they were explained:

a. The setting in this movie is Jim Crow South in Marshall, Texas. This was a place where lynching was common in the twentieth century when racial discrimination was still common. It was therefore a surprise that a small all-black College, that is, Wiley College could achieve such a feat by defeating all the other debate teams in the region and beyond.
b. The colour of the movie was very dull. Although, it was not black and white but the movie was not colourful. It went on to display the old times with the way the colour of the movie was portrayed.
c. Behaviour of characters: each character fitted into his/her role/, all of them were emotionally in tune with their roles and assumed it with ease. It makes it difficult to believe that they have normal lives asides the role of the characters each portrayed.
d. Lighting: the lights used in the movie adapted well into the various scenes that it entailed. The scene where the sharecroppers were caught having a union meeting, back light was used to cast shadows and to make the place look dim-litted.
e. Costumes: the costumes did not suit their status as we were made to believe that they were just managing, when Dr. Farmers’ wife told him they really needed the seventeen dollars he was given to the pig farmer, but all through the movie they dressed too classy for what we were made to believe. However, when Mr Tolson went to the club and to a meeting with the sharecroppers, the clothes he wore described the kind of places he was going to.


• Evaluation-: the movie made use of all the necessary elements to form a heart-wrenching movie. The movie touches the hearts of everyone that watches it and is certainly not one to be forgotten in a hurry. The movie title captures the soul of this movie as it centers on the debates and the people involved in this debate. Generally, I believe the actors and actresses did a good job in highlighting the purpose of the movie. Although, there were certain errors in the movie, it can be forgiven because of the fantastic display of the Great Debaters.



CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the Great Debaters is a must-watch and must-have movie by anybody who wants a societal change and is willing to pay for the uprise of the society. It is a touching movie as it takes you through the rigors, sorrow, happiness of the debaters and those who matter to them.