Many historical movies are dramatized so much that the true history of the main character becomes a very minor detail. I first heard of Harriet Tubman in relation to her role as a nurse in the U.S. Civil War. I also learned that Harriet Tubman, due to a head injury, possibly had epilepsy with visions and an occasional collapse. The movie Harriet depicts much greater depth to Harriet Tubman’s story. After some research this afternoon reading reviews and historical information I can tell you that the reviews are mixed and some of the story is not historically accurate. There are a couple of reasons for this that I could discern. The first is that Harriet (Cynthia Erivo) was, in fact, illiterate, with much information not written in her own hand. The second is that a life history, condensed into two hours on screen, has created a need to compress time. The two characters that were mainly composites of individuals from that time in history were Gideon Brodess (Joe Alwyn) and Marie Buchanan (Janelle Monaé).
Despite any veering from historical accuracy, I enjoyed this movie. It was an accurate, if sometimes very brutal, depiction of a strong, courageous woman who became a staunch abolitionist before the Civil War, beginning with her own escape from her slave owners. Slave owners who should have freed her based on the legal wishes of their deceased father. This part is detailed at the beginning of the movie and signalled Minty’s (Araminta/Harriet) run to freedom. She left her husband, who was dubiously free in a hostile environment, afraid he would be re-enslaved if they were caught. I’m not sure many of us can imagine what a ‘run to freedom’ would entail, but some of the safe stops trailed by dogs and slave trackers, without out food or shelter made it very real. Harriet had to learn to hold her head high ‘look like she belonged', learn how to shoot, and learn how to dress. In short, learn how to protect herself in a very hostile world. She first fled to Philedelphia to the Abolitionist Society and later navigated the Underground Railroad and became a ‘conductor’ getting people to St. Catherines, Ont. After her first year of freedom, she returned to the plantation where her family was to bring her husband, John Tubman (Zachary Momoh) to freedom. Things did not go as planned. He had remarried thinking her drowned after she jumped off a bridge to avoid the slave trackers. Questioning her God, whom she had complete faith in, she was torn as to her next steps. Back in slave country, her husband lost to her, it was her brothers and three others that she led to safety in Philadelphia. In her long years as an abolitionist aka Moses, she led at least 70 slaves out of slavery. Her mission continued with the Union Army in many roles. Spy, nurse, and the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War. 750 slaves were freed in that action. She survived it all and died at age 91 in 1913.
Harriet Tubman’s life was full and extraordinary. To pack such a life into a limited two hours took, in my mind, great skill. I am torn to discount any fictions that were created if it furthered our awareness of Harriet Tubman’s story.
“Many of you don’t know slavery first-hand. But I remember.
I’ve heard their groans, heard their tears.”
~ Harriet Tubman, Harriet - the movie
(speaking to the Abolitionist Society)
Directed by Kasi Lemmons
Writing Credits: Gregory Allen Howard
Kasi Lemmons
Partial Cast
Cynthia Erivo - Harriet Tubman (Minty)
Zachary Momoh - John Tubman, Harriet’s husband
Michael Marunde - Edward Brodess
Jennifer Nettles - Eliza Brodess, plantation owner’s wife
Joe Alwyn - Gideon Brodess, plantation owner’s son
Clarke Peters - Ben Ross, Harriet’s father
Vanessa Bell Calloway - Rit Ross, Harriet’s mother
Leslie Odom Jr. - William Still
Janelle Monaé - Marie Buchanan
Vondie Curtis-Hall - Reverend Green, pastor on plantation
Henry Hunter Hall - Walter, slave tracker
Omar J. Dorsey - Bigger Long, slave tracker
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