SELMA
Starring David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson
Directed by Ava DuVernay
As this involving account of a fraught chapter in the American civil rights movement opens, we’re treated to the rare sight of an icon getting his game face on. Preparing to receive the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) illustrates that the seemingly effortless eloquence he lent his speeches was, in fact, the end result of much trial and error, revision and refinement. Conversely, director Ava DuVernay's hit-and-miss experimentation is left on screen for all to see. However, what she lacks in polish, she more than compensates for with persuasive power.
Selma wisely foregoes the comprehensive biopic approach in favour of focussing exclusively on a critical juncture in a historic figure's storied life. In this case, it’s the events surrounding the 1965 marches that King led in order to pressure President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) into passing the Voting Rights Act. King identifies Selma, Alabama as an ideal staging ground for his protests, with his rationale being that such a racist powder keg is bound to explode and draw national media attention. The crackers uphold their end of the bargain and the streets are soon running with blood.
However, it isn't the depictions of appalling violence that elevate Selma to important viewing but rather its portrayal of the unthinkable resolve that's often required to realize epochal change. The fact DuVernay was denied use of King's speeches proves a blessing in disguise, as the mesmerizing Oyelowo instead gives voice to new compositions that evoke the sentiment of the originals while being imbued with a riveting immediacy.
Given that current headlines call into question how far society has really come, it's a sad truth that King's message remains relevant today. Fortunately, it also retains its capacity to inspire.
