Based on actual events in 1838, AMISTAD is the story of captured African slaves who took over their transport ship in a bloody revolt with the hopes of returning back to their homeland. After the slaves are caught and imprisoned, their leader, Cinque (Djimon Hounsou), unable to understand the language or court system of America, tries to communicate his desire to return home to his defense lawyer, Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey), and former slave Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman). The men plead for help with their groundbreaking court case from former president John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins). Steven Spielberg directed this moving film, using as a reference the book by William A. Owens, BLACK MUTINY: THE REVOLT ON THE SCHOONER AMISTAD. The Africans in the movie speak Mende, with subtitles added. West African actor Djimon Hounsou had to learn to speak the language for his role--and was nominated for a Golden Globe. Spielberg shot the film at the State House in Providence, Rhode Island, the seaport in Mystic, Connecticut, and other New England locations.

Steven Spielberg directed this powerful film depicting the real-life events that followed the 1839 insurrection aboard the slave ship Amistad. Desperate prisoner Cinque (Djimon Hounsou) leads his fellow prisoners in a bloody revolt on the ship and demands to be returned to Africa. When the slaves are recaptured and imprisoned in New England, lawyer Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey) is hired to represent the Africans and their desire to return home. With the help of John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins), Cinque and Baldwin try their historical case in front of the Supreme Court.

Theatrical release: December 4, 1997.

The film was shot on location in Newport and Providence, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Mystic, Connecticut; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Letterbox - 1.85
Dual Layer
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Theatrical Trailer
Featurette
Talent Bios
Text\Photo Galleries:
Production Notes

Morgan Freeman: American Actor
Anthony Hopkins: Welsh Actor
Djimon Hounsou: Actor, AMISTAD, THE ISLAND, BLOOD DIAMOND, CONSTANTINE
Matthew McConaughey: American actor, SAHARA, FOOL'S GOLD
Nigel Hawthorne: British Actor, THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE (1995)
David Paymer: American Supporting Actor
Pete Postlethwaite: 
Stellan Skarsgaard: Actor
Anna Paquin: Oscar winning Actress, THE PIANO
Razaaq Adoti: Actor
Abu Bakaar Fofanah: 
Tomas Milian: Cuban Actor/In Italy
Chjwetel Ejiofor: 
Derrick N. Ashong: 
Geno Silva: TV Actor/"Wild Times"
John Ortiz: 
Ralph Brown: British Supporting Actor
Darren E. Burrows: Actor, NORTHERN EXPOSURE
Allan Rich: Actor/"Another Chance"
Paul Guilfoyle: American Character Actor
Peter Firth: British Actor
Xander Berkeley: Actor
Jeremy Northam: Actor/"The Net"
Arliss Howard: American Actor
Willie Amakye: 
Luc Assogba: 
Mariah Campbell: 
Stephen Conteh: 
Monguehy Fanzy: 
Jimmy Fotso: 
Adekunle Ilori: 
Sheriff Kargbo: 
Saye Lah: 
Sylvestre Massaquoi: 
Samson Odede: 
Chike Okpala: 
Willie Onafesso: 
Samuel Pieh: 
Lansana Sawi: 
Abu Sidique: 
El Hadj Malik Sow: 
Lamine Thiam: 
Austin Pendleton: Star, BAD CITY (2006)
Daniel Von Bargen: Supporting Actor
Rusty Schwimmer: Actress/"Little Princess"
Pedro Armendariz: Mexican Actor, LA LEY DE HERODES
Frank T. Wells: 
Michael Massee: Actor/My Father Is Coming
Roy Cooper: 
Jake Weber: Actor, DAWN OF THE DEAD (2004)
Victor Rivers: Actor/"Blood In Blood Out
Joseph Kosseh: 
Steve Passewe: 
Sherly Accosta Williams: 

Steven Spielberg: Oscar-winning Director/Producer/Screenwriter

Steven Spielberg: Oscar-winning Director/Producer/Screenwriter
Debbie Allen: Dancer/Choreographer, Sister to Phylicia Rashad
Colin Wilson: Producer, big budget films, '90s-, LOST WORLD 1 & 2

David H. Franzoni: Screenwriter/Producer, GLADIATOR (2000)

John Williams: American Film Composer, STAR WARS (1977)

Michael Kahn: American Editor/ MAN CALLED HORSE-CLOSE ENCOUNTERS-A.I.

"...Sheer power, moral and otherwise. It possesses a massively majestic hero..." -- 3 out of 4 stars
"...It has excellent cinematography....Djimon Hounsou gives the film a strong visual focus as he radiates extraordinary presence and fury..."
"...A monumentally impressive achievement and further proof of Spielberg's ongoing maturation as an artist..."