It’s not often a movie trailer gives you shivers but the historic nature of Martin Luther King Jr.’s story gave me that reaction, and in a truly positive way after watching this first UK trailer for SELMA. The film focuses around the civil rights marches that, very literally, changed America and had a rippling affect forever across the world. The story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s struggle to secure voting rights for African-Americans opens in UK cinemas on 6th February, 2015 with next year also marking the 50th anniversary of this pivotal moment in the US Civil Rights Movement and this triumphant story of the power of the people.
SELMA stars the brilliant Brit actor David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr. with direction coming from Ava DuVernay. There’s also an impressive supporting cast that includes Tom Wilkinson as President Lyndon B. Johnson, Tim Roth as Governor George Wallace and Carmen Ejogo as Coretta King; alongside Oprah Winfrey as Annie-Lee Cooper.
The film tracks a dangerous and terrifying three-month campaign led by Martin Luther King Jr. which culminated in the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The campaign galvanized American public opinion and persuaded President Johnson to introduce the Voting Rights Act, protecting Africa-Americans’ right to vote. It’s a must watch:
SELMA opens in the UK on 6th February, 2015.
