Review: “Harriet”

Going in to see Harriet, I thought it was going to be just another slave movie and I wasn’t really interested in seeing another movie that reminds us of how bad it was for people of color in the 19th Century. However, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

If you haven’t heard, Harriet is a film that tells the story of Harriet Tubman. What I enjoyed most about the film were the significant details of her life that either weren’t taught in my school or I forgot about. I’m sort of a biography buff and am really interested in public figures stories, especially the stories that tell how they became famous or popular. Not only does the film take us back in time to show us how Harriet freed over 700 Slaves but it also fills in a lot of information many of us may not have known about her story.

Without giving away spoilers, which is probably mot that big of a deal since it’s based off a true story, the film takes us to the beginning where Harriet is a slave and what ignited her desire and courage to be freed. Due to the love she had for her husband, she left him to head up north to be free staying that she “will either be free or dead”. After gaining her freedom in Philadelphia, she realized that gaining her freedom was not enough and that she had to go back to get her family. Upon coming back to her slave masters and attempting to free her husband, she was met with a surprise and ended up freeing not just her family but any slave that was willing to trust her and take the voyage.

The film not only shows the determination of Harriet Tubman but also shows her strong will and her faith in God. In the film, we see that her connection with God is so intense at times it knocks her off of her feet (literally). Actress Cynthia Erivo does an amazing job of making us feel the passion Harriet Tubman has not only to become free but to also free as many as she could.

Harriet hits theaters November 1st. Let us know what you think! Check out the trailer below.