The Slave Movie Analysis

Originally aired more than three decades ago, Alex Haley’s adaptation of the slave experience was brought to televisions everywhere. The film chronicled not only the slave experience, but shed light too many whom otherwise would not know that slaves were in fact thriving and civilized prior to Americas slave experience. The film begins with Kunta Kinte, a Mandinka warrior of Gambia, West Africa, who had come from a strong lineage of royal warrior leaders in his village. One day Kunta Kinte was beat and kidnapped and awoke to find himself chained as a prisoner. He had now become part of what we know as the Middle Passage. The film educated viewers on the horrors and revolts of the middle passage, the narrative of a slave, the living conditions …show more content…
Many of the slaves endured the “tight-packing” philosophy. A philosophy that captains believed that more slaves be combined, which would result in a higher casualty rate, in order to increase a greater profit at trading blocks for those wishing to purchase them. Kunta Kinte was sent on the slave ship Lord Ligonier. He was tight packed also. His journey to America, specifically Maryland, which took him four months was extremely significant in demonstrating the journey from Africa to the New World. Revolts weren’t uncommon on this journey. Many slaves would have rather suffer death than be enslaved to man. Many jumped overboard. Including but not limited too; families, children, and former village leaders. For those whom did not jump overboard, they would die as a result from many diseases that were associated to horrific living …show more content…
Slave owners had no problem with this. In the film Kunta was able to marry Bell Reynolds/Waller. Of that union they produced one daughter named Kizzy. The slave owners had no problem with this due to it was seen as an economical opportunity for increase of money and labor.
The director of the film, Roots, used various cinematic devices to portray the movie in the most realistic way. One of the numerous examples the director sets the mood of the film is illustrated though dancing and singing. When the slaves began adapting and forming their bonds, songs and praises would be commenced. Unbeknownst to the masters those slaves were codes of communication between the slaves.
In short, Roots, the film certainly allows the audience to view the horrors and revolts of the middle passage, the narrative of a slave, the living conditions of slaves, and the impactful experience it had on the black familial