For many Americans, returning to the turmoil of the Civil War would be terrifying, but that’s what Will Smith has done in Emancipation. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Emancipation marks the first starring role for Smith since the infamous Oscars slap and is arguably the best performance of the actor’s career. His inspiration, in part, came from two words Fuqua wrote at the top of the script, encouraging Smith not to be afraid.
‘Emancipation’ tells the true story of an escaped enslaved man
Emancipation takes place during the turmoil of the Civil War, when Will Smith’s character, Peter, is legally freed after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. However, he must escape his bondage in the South to claim that freedom. The film is based on a historical photo of an escaped enslaved man, Gordon (Smith’s character), known throughout history as “Whipped Peter.”
