Film Review – Emancipation

“Emancipation” explores the story of “Whipped Peter,” an enslaved man who, in 1863, managed to escape his captors, crossing 40 miles of Louisiana swampland with hopes to reach some form of safety with Union officers during the Civil War. A photo was taken of his heavily scarred back, creating a horrifying image of suffering that helped to open some eyes to the barbarity of slavery. Screenwriter William N. College and director Antoine Fuqua endeavor to explore and embellish the man’s tale of survival, trying to add something to the ongoing cinematic study of slavery, but “Emancipation” isn’t a nuanced understanding of suffering and faith in the face of despair. It’s more of a Michael Bay-esque effort, with Fuqua trying to stylize horrors and highlight the adventurous aspects of the chase, losing essential elements of character and stakes along the way. The picture is straining to be an important look at physical and spiritual might, but the fine details of fear are lost in the flashiness. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com