Just short of "Amazing”

An entertaining historical film, "Amazing Grace" achieves a balance between biography and story, relating powerful themes while narrating the life of 18th century British abolitionist William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd). The movie portrays Wilberforce as a compassionate leader who fights for a just cause.

When the movie opens, Wilberforce, after failing year after year to pass a bill to abolish slavery in the British House of Commons, is plagued by guilt so deep that it causes physical sickness. Tormented by acute pain and hallucinations of suffering slaves, Wilberforce has lost the energy to lead the abolition movement — until he meets the brilliant and politically active Barbara (Romola Garai), who restores his determination to fight for his cause through the end of the film.

Dark scenes depict Wilberforce's inner torment, lit only by contemporary candlesticks that draw attention to the shadows on his gaunt face. In contrast, gentle sunlight bathes many of the outdoor scenes where Wilberforce is with Barbara, whom he soon marries. Gruffudd and Garai are well matched, fitting naturally together in the brighter scenes, which mirror the youthful vitality that Barbara instills in Wilberforce.

Although the varied camera lighting marks a clear distinction between Wilberforce's life before and after meeting Barbara, the film could have achieved a starker contrast had the scenes depicting Wilberforce's suffering been more chilling. His hallucinations of slaves in shackles are mildly disturbing, but the truly harrowing accounts of slaves being transported from Africa — a three-week journey with barely any food or water, with excrement strewn about the ship and half of the slaves dead before the ship reaches the West Indies — are told primarily through descriptions, while footage would have made the scenes infinitely more compelling. Given the plotline, "Amazing Grace" would have fared better with more disturbing imagery and a PG-13 rating rather than the halting narration that lets it fall under PG.

Though it often veers on the side of caution, "Amazing Grace" manages to convey a powerful message about perseverance. With Barbara's encouragement, Wilberforce regains the resolution to gain support for his abolition bill. To sway the opposition, he organizes a boat trip for anti-abolition members of Parliament that, to their surprise, brings them before a slave ship. As the men cover their faces with handkerchiefs to avoid inhaling the stench of death, excrement and sickness, Wilberforce delivers a compelling speech describing the horrors of slavery and urging the members of Parliament to vote for his bill.

The film also explores the idea of religion as a guiding force in Wilberforce's life. The song, "Amazing Grace," written by his childhood preacher, continually restores Wilberforce's confidence that the slave trade will ultimately be abolished. Wilberforce's religious faith is always intertwined with his political goals, and he leads the abolition movement because he believes that equality and freedom are God-given rights.

With its powerful messages about liberty, perseverance and faith, "Amazing Grace" is a moving film. A biography, it draws universal themes from one person's story. Though the movie could certainly be more compelling in some places, it is worth seeing for its dramatic portrayal of a significant historical movement.

"Amazing Grace" (111 minutes, area theaters) is rated PG for thematic material involving slavery and some mild language.