FILM... through our EYES!!!

THE STORY


The struggle by the black race, also called the coloured people, for equality with the whites is perhaps one of the most prolonged issues of our time. This struggle was actuated by the preconceived idea that whites are superior to blacks because of some myopic biases that the former hold against the latter. Upholding their biases above morality and peaceful co-existence, this supposedly superior group has committed innumerable atrocities against their fellow humans all because they are of a different skin colour-black. The euphemism, racial discrimination, is a poor attempt at describing these inhumane acts.

The Great Debaters, directed by Denzel Washington is a vivid description of racial discrimination in America in the 1930s. The movie is about a certain professor at Wiley College, Mr. Tolson (Denzel Washington), who was against this discrimination and subjugation and was willing to be a voice for the people. He projected this voice through a debate team of four students who promoted the ideology that white and black children should be given the same privileges and opportunities because the blacks are not just part of America, but actually “the thread that holds it together”.

Tolson, who is dedicated to this cause of changing the status-quo, gives his best into training his team for debate competitions. The debate team is also portrayed as having a passion for change and not just winning the competitions. Together, both team and coach work tirelessly together and win a lot of competitions, the climax of which was beating Harvard university in their final competition.



THE PLOT

Being a movie depicting the 1930s, the plot of this movie centres on old practices and customs. This is mirrored in the type of music, geographical location, props and so on that was used in the movie. For instance, the type of music being played at the beginning of the movie was anything but modern. The location was dominated by sandy roads, grasslands and so on. An example of a prop that depicted that era was the locomotive train that transported the debate team when they were leaving for their competition at Harvard University.

THE NARRATIVE

There are two narratives embedded in this movie;

 The personal lives of the debaters : Initially, the three debaters were shown in their former social circumstances; Henry Lowe at a party, James Farmer Junior at the church and Samantha Booke on a journey.

 The debate competitions: The movie later graduates into showing these people with their lives revolving around their debates.

THE THEMES

The following themes were depicted in the movie;

 Racial Discrimination: This movie showed various scenes that spoke volumes about the level of racial discrimination during that era. An example of such scenes is that in which a negro was hanged and burned to death for nor justifiable reason whatsoever. Also the whites’ invasion of privacy and brutality meted on the blacks when Mr. Tolson was holding a meeting with the farmers.

 Struggle for equality: The whole movie centres on this as we see that all the debate competitions were anchored on this struggle.

 Courage: This was depicted in the way James Farmer senior handled the arrest of Tolson by standing up to the sheriff and being able to get Tolson out of jail.

 Passion: This was majorly for change and all the presentations of the great debaters showed their level of passion for the change in the status-quo.

 Determination: The team continued to write Harvard University until they were granted audience. Also, when the topic for the debate with Harvard was changed, the debaters still did not relent in their efforts.

 Fear: This was shown in the debate team when they witnessed the brutal killing of a fellow Negro and escaped being mobbed just narrowly.

 Romance: This was between Samantha and Henry on the canoe at the lake.

NARRATIVE FORM

Realised Expectation: It was an expectation realised that James Farmer Junior was caught sneaking into his house at 1:00a.m. by his dad.

Cheated Expectation: The first here was the fact that Tolson did not go to Harvard with the team. A second cheated expectation was that Henry Lowe let James take his expected place at the final competition with Harvard. Also, when Tolson went to Harvard eventually, it was a cheated expectation that he did not wait to congratulate the team.

SUSPENSE


One example of this was when James was watching Tolson’s meeting with the farmers and the white mob came. He found himself on the floor of a stable and was grabbed by the neck by an unknown person who was revealed to be Tolson shortly after.

A second example was when the team was faced by the mob on their trip, everyboby in that scene actually stood still and silent for some seconds.

A third example was when James Farmer Senior hit the white men’s pig and then one of the white men drew his weapon.

FEELING

There is a feeling of passion for change in the debaters, the fear in them as they encounter the injustice against a fellow Negro, confidence in the team by Tolson. Also, there is the feeling of deep likeness that James has for Samantha. Also, the feeling of unhappiness in Samantha after Henry comes home drunk with another girl.

CAUSE AND EFFECT

One of these is that Tolson’s bad experience as a child in relation to his father made him the tough man that he became.

Also, Henry Lowe who lost his parents as a child grew up to be independent.

James Farmer had his family complete and we saw that he was really dependent on them.







SIMILARITY AND REPETITION

One of these was the statement, “The Judge is God, because he determines who wins or losses...” which the great debaters were made to recite at the beginning of their training. This was later recited by James when Henry asked him to take his place at the debate.

Also the way James said “we do what we have to do so that we can do what we want to do” during his conversation with his dad after being appointed a member of the debate team insinuates that it is a recurrent statement in the house.

Thirdly, when Farmer senior was talking with the sheriff, he quoted St. Augustine saying, “an unjust law is no law at all”. This was later repeated by Farmer Junior at the Wiley/Harvard competition.

DIFFERENCES AND VARIATION

From the onset Henry Lowe was shown to be more independent and outspoken than his team mates. He also had a different approach to things even little things like is going to admire the cup while his team mates were showing so much excitement at being in Harvard. This alos showed his level of maturity as opposed to the others.

DEPTH OF STORY

An example of this was when Farmer Junior was imagining himself dancing with Samantha and actually kissing her at the ball.

MIS EN SCENE

The setting aptly depicted the 1930s. The types of cars used all through the movie, the canoe on the lake, the sandy roads, the dressing mode of the cast (even Henry’s hairdo), the locomotive train, the type of ball that was organised, the type of music and dance at the party shown in the first scene of the movie.



CINEMATOGRAPHY

Dolly-in: This movement was used many times in the movie, for instance at the debate between Harlequin College and Wiley College. The camera dollyed-in when the debaters from both sides were speaking.

High Angle: An example was during the debate between Wiley College and Harvard.

Crane: An example of this was at the beginning of the movie when the camera seemed to be flying over water.

Point of View (P.O.V.): An example of this was when Tolson got to Harvard and did not see Henry upstage. The camera started scanning the audience to represent the fact that Tolson was trying to locate Henry.

Finally, this movie is very thorough in its depiction of each of its themes. It also emphasises the importance and advantages of sound historical education and the need for versatility.