Amistad

"Freedom is not given. It is our right at birth. But there are moments when it must be taken."

In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed slave Theodore Joadson wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin to help his case. Eventually, John Quincy Adams also becomes an ally.

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast

Morgan Freeman

Theodore Joadson

Nigel Hawthorne

Martin Van Buren

Anthony Hopkins

John Quincy Adams

Djimon Hounsou

Cinque

Matthew McConaughey

Roger Sherman Baldwin

David Paymer

Secretary John Forsyth

Pete Postlethwaite

Holabird

Stellan Skarsgård

Tappan