At first glance it's hard to see how a film set in 1965 could still be deemed relevant today, but that's exactly what Selma manages to achieve given the recent escalation in racial tensions again in the US. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the movie explores the struggles that Dr Martin Luther King Jr (David Oyelowo) and his followers had to overcome in their fight for equality and their bid to have a voice.
It was Dr. King's belief that raising consciousness for the movement was just as crucial as rallying and organizing black communities, and with that in mind, he and his advisors travelled to Selma, Alabama for a peaceful protest, before they set off on a journey of 50 miles to the state capital of Montgomery. As expected, they encountered all manner of obstacles on their journey. Enraging the deep rooted racial beliefs of local law enforcement and catching the attention of the FBI as they march onward, Dr King Jr and his followers experience all manner of brutality and bigotry.
Director Ava DuVernay confidently handles a huge ensemble cast and despite pacing issues, manages to get the best from a script that is choc full of expository dialogue. From stirring speeches to haunting imagery,Selma holds your attention, captivates and educates the viewer, and does so without ever feeling like a history lecture. Selma is littered with diverse and engaging characters; some there because of their role in events, some there it seems at times just to offer up conflicting points of view. While some of the cast prove to be excess to the outcome, all of them offer some little nugget of insight into how the world was at that time and for that reason, no one character feels wasted. Oyelowo is electric as the charismatic Dr. King Jr, delivering a powerful and provocative character study of a man whose effect on society is still spreading and growing even today. Screenwriter Paul Webb doesn't shy away from the fact that Dr. King Jr didn't lead an idyllic personal life, and though his infidelities are documented, it's testament to the man that it didn't derail his cause.
Selma is an intelligent and emotionally charged drama, anchored by an impassioned performance from David Oyelowo While it may be dogged with a few minor historical inaccuracies, the overall message of Martin Luther King Jr is one that shines through, and has echoed over the last 50 years to still have a bearing on society right now. For that reason alone, Selma is a triumph; vital, resonant and compelling viewing.
