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Parents' Guide to

Freedom

By Grace Montgomery, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Religious historical film has disturbing, graphic violence.

Movie R 2015 98 minutes
Freedom Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 12+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Helen L Embry
Helen L Embry Adult
July 4, 2020
age 13+

The Hyms do not match the time, in which the story took place. It Is Well, With My Soul was written in 1874. Pass Me Not has a Copy Write date of 1867...

Craig Y.
Craig Y. Adult
January 21, 2018
age 12+

listening to Jubilant Sykes is worth the entire film

This is a sometimes amazing film. The music in it added much to some scenes and in some scenes it took away from the believeability of the film. It does a good job of showing the underground railroad and the slave trade. But, some of the hymns they used were not even in the right time period. It is Well With My Soul was written well after the Civil War. I do recommend it, though. It should not have gotten an R rating.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Slaves Samuel (Cuba Gooding Jr.); his mother, Adira (Phyllis Bash); his wife, Vanessa (Sharon Leal); and his son, Jim have escaped from their Virginia plantation on the Underground Railroad. Aided by abolitionist Thomas Garrett (Michael Goodwin), the family frantically tries to stay one step ahead of famed slave tracker Plimpton, who's been hired by the plantation owner to catch them. On their journey, Adira relates the story of her great-grandfather Ozias (Jubilant Sykes), who was on a slave ship with John Newton (Bernhard Forcher), a captain who's urged by his fiancée to think of his conscience and stop trafficking slaves. Though Samuel and his family struggle to keep their hope and faith alive on their journey to freedom, Newton discovers the humanity in all people.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (1 ):

FREEDOM could have been a wonderful movie, but ultimately it misses the mark. It has two compelling story lines that, unfortunately, feel cobbled together and make for a disjointed, awkward film. Some moments are magic, such as Samuel's family being hidden from slave trackers by an over-the-top theater troupe. And music is beautifully woven throughout, with almost all the main characters singing haunting or uplifting tunes at various points. But the religious message of finding your faith feels forced, and the actors who should be the most engaging (Cuba Gooding Jr. as Samuel and Bernhard Foucher as Newton) are wooden and one-dimensional.

The message that slavery is wrong and everyone should be treated equally is beautifully presented, and parents wishing to share this message with teens and introduce them to the history of the abolitionist movement might consider this film. But they should definitely also consider the graphic (though historically accurate) violence before showing it to younger or more sensitive teens.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the historical figures who are featured or mentioned in the film, such as Thomas Garrett, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman. Why do you think they all risked their lives to help slaves escape to freedom?

  • What do you know about the Underground Railroad? How can you learn more?

  • Music plays a large role in Freedom. Why do you think music was so important to all the characters? Besides "Amazing Grace," did you recognize any other songs in the film?

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