Koch on film

Koch on film

By Ed Koch

“Amazing Grace” (-)

This film tells the story of how a small group of men dedicated to ending slavery in the British Empire circa 1880 accomplished their goal.

The leader of the group was William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd), a Christian and dedicated member of Parliament who, because he was sickly, took laudanum — liquid opium — to kill the pain. Year after year he introduced legislation to end slavery and was always defeated. Wilberforce’s close college friend and colleague in the House of Commons was William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), who became prime minister. Behind the scenes, Pitt helped the abolitionists who were described by defenders of slavery as revolutionaries. The word “revolutionaries” then conjured up the American Revolution. The description “Commies” by some American politicians to describe enemies of the Republic during the Cold War was a comparable, broad-brush tactic. Ultimately the abolitionists used a parliamentary device still used today: by hiding the real intent of the legislation, they were able to pass it by a huge margin. Apparently the legislation was described and considered a vote against France with whom England was at war.

All of the roles with the exception of the lead character are cameos. Albert Finney and Michael Gambon were excellent in their cameo roles, even if inconsequential. Whoever designed the wigs worn by the parliamentarians had a terrific sense of humor and sought by the style of the wigs to convey the underlying personalities of the individuals.

My quarrel with the film is that it is too static and doesn’t reach the heights it could have. The subject was very interesting, but I felt as though I were watching the reading of a play. It could have used a lot more action. Remember, it was a film about ending the slave trade. Before it ended, 11 million Africans were transported against their will to the Western Hemisphere to slavery.

“Days of Glory” (“Indigenes”) (+)

The battle scenes in this marvelous World War II movie rival those in “Band of Brothers,” which in my opinion is the best film ever made about World War II.

“Days of Glory” also provides insight into the terrible way France treated its African (black and Arab) supporters from North Africa seeking to help liberate the “motherland,” France. They were treated with disdain and prejudice, the blacks worse than the Arabs. A truly emotional moment occurs when a black African soldier is prevented from taking a fresh tomato at dinner because they were reserved for whites. If you already hold the French government in minimum high regard, as I do, this film will reinforce your feelings.

“Days of Glory” is a sleeper film drawing unexpectedly large audiences. The cast includes: Said (Jamel Debbouze), Yassir (Samy Naceri); Messaoud (Roschdy Zem; Abdelkader (Sami Bouajila); Sergeant Martinez (Bernard Blancan), Captain Durieux (Benoit Giros), Marguerite (Melanie Laurent), Irene (Aurelie Eltvedt), and Leroux (Mathieu Simonet).

A thrilling, and I believe accurate, battle scene occurs when a small French-Arab contingent is sent to help American soldiers (whom we never see) fight a much larger German contingent in a farm setting. The last fifteen minutes of the movie are the best part and have the feel of an American Western with its constant movement and action. A particularly tender scene involves the love affair between one of the Arabs, Said, and a beautiful French woman, Marguerite, which is prevented from going forward by a bureaucratic army censor.

All in all, the movie provided a wonderful evening of entertainment. (In French, with English subtitles). It was followed by a meal at Morandi, Keith McNally’s new Italian restaurant located at 211 Waverly Place in Greenwich Village. The prices are very reasonable with hors d’oeuvres in the $10-$15 range and pasta entrees beginning at $15. McNally, who owns Pastis in the Meatpacking District, has created another beautiful restaurant. He is a genius.