Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Emancipation is the story of a man enslaved by the Confederate Army. Peter (Will Smith) will do anything to gain freedom and get back with his wife Dodienne (Charmaine Bingwa) and children.
When word gets out that President Lincoln freed the slaves in the rebellious states, Peter wants to find out if it's true. For days, he will endure the pursuit of warden Jim Fassel (Ben Foster), hoping to meet Lincoln's army in Baton Rouge.
The inspiration behind Emancipation comes from a photograph taken in 1863. Attributed to McPherson and Oliver, it depicts the torn back of a slave known as "Slapped Peter" (supposed to be Gordon). Gordon's picture was a great catalyst for the abolition movement as it proved the many horrors of slavery.
After a 10-day chase, he met the Union army and was photographed.
Who does Captain Lyons sell Peter to?
Peter lives with his wife Dodienne and three children on the plantation of Captain John Lyons (Jayson Warner Smith) – until Lyons sells him to the Confederate Army. There, Fassel supervises Peter and hundreds of other slaves as they work on the Confederate railroad.
How does Peter escape?
When Peter hears from Confederate soldiers that Lincoln has freed the slaves, he decides it's time to seize that freedom. He spreads the word throughout the camp, drawing everyone into the escape plan.
They all run at once and chaos ensues. Fassel and his men kill several slaves as they escape, but Peter succeeds. He tells his companions to spread out to increase their chances of not getting caught. Now each of them is on their own.
Is Jim Fassel catching Peter?
Fassel does not give up the chase and focuses on catching Peter in particular. For days, Peter is on the run from the warden. Traversing the dangerous swamps, Peter narrowly escapes death by an alligator and Fassel's men.
Finally, Peter comes upon one of his fellow escapees and unwittingly leads Fassel's dogs to him. Peter encourages her to rub onions all over her skin to distract the dogs from their scent. The dogs lead Fassel right to him, and Peter manages to escape.
Peter then comes across a burning house, the victim of a battle between Union and Confederate soldiers. Everyone there is dead except for the young Black girl who tried to comfort Peter when he died. Two of Fassel's men find him there, but he kills them and escapes again.
Killing Peter Fassel?
Arriving at the battlefield of the Union army, Fassel finally catches up with Peter. A Union soldier shoots him before he can pull the trigger. He falls on top of Peter and dies.
Does Peter join the Union army?
Peter eventually catches up with the Union army, but he is not immediately free. He doesn't have much choice but to join his army. When Peter gives general news of Confederate reinforcements arriving soon, the general decides to send him along with other black soldiers to take Port Hudson before the reinforcements arrive (knowing they will all die).
As Captain Andre Cailloux (Mustafa Shakir) says, Port Hudson is a killing field. Many of the soldiers die, but Peter rallies the Confederate soldiers in the middle of the battle to rush them and win the battle.
How does emancipation end? Is Peter reunited with his family?
Liberation ends with the Union soldiers marching on Captain Lyons' plantation. After Captain Lyons is shot and killed, the soldiers announce their freedom to his slaves. Peter and the other soldiers are ordered to help them, and Peter goes through the crowd in search of his family.
Finally, he comes upon Dodienne and her children. Dodienne has lost her hand (something she had to do on purpose to avoid being sold), but she hugs her husband and is happy that they are all together again.
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