During the Civil War, a slave escapes from a plantation in Louisiana. His only salvation to find his family is to join the Union army and face the Confederate troops.
Will Smith’s first film since his slap in the face of Chris Rock (and, incidentally, his Best Actor Oscar for King Richard), Emancipation (to freedom, in French) could have played in the flowerbeds of 12 Years a Slave. The result, which is inspired by a true story, is quite different.
Published in 1863, photos showing the whipped mutilated back of this man – nicknamed Whipped Peter – have become a symbol of the atrocities of slavery. The feature film which has just been produced at a cost of 120 million US uses historical facts as a mere pretext for a Hollywood spectacle.
The promising introduction, however, hinted at something else. Separated from his family, the main character is taken to a labor camp. The shadow of the classic The Bridge on the River Kwai hovers with these troubled relations between the dominant and the dominated.
Then the hero manages to take to their heels and he is pursued in the swamps. The narrative becomes much more conventional, taking the path of formatted suspense. Even if the raw material is rich, screenwriter Bill Collage – who has worked on productions like Assassin’s Creed and Exodus: Gods and Kings – favored action over reflection.
This should not displease Antoine Fuqua (Infinity, Training Day), a filmmaker experienced in the genre, for whom efficiency is an end in itself. His directing work impresses at first before becoming boring with its effects, both in the use of music and slow motion. Magnificent, the images of Robert Richardson (Quentin Tarantino’s cinematographer) end up aestheticizing the violence, which is always morally questionable.
Having refused to participate in Django Unchained, who explored similar themes with a certain ambiguity, Will Smith was undoubtedly more comfortable in the skin of this imperturbable, believing and loving man. The actor also delivers a touching performance, especially when he lets his body express itself. However, more was needed to raise Emancipationwho traded his duty of memory for that of entertaining.
On Apple TV+
historical drama
Emancipation (V.F.: Towards freedom)
Antoine Fuqa
With Will Smith, Ben Foster and Charmaine Bingwa
2:12 a.m.