The story of a former slave is brought vividly to life by director Charley Williams and writer/performer Fred MaGee. Here is our review of Freedom in Gold Dust.
’Back in 2013 Steve McQueen brought us ‘12 Years a Slave’ which following in the footsteps of ‘Django Unchained’ and ‘The Butler’ was part of a larger cultural shift that created space for more personal depictions of slavery. All nominated for and winning numerous Academy awards these successes allowed such stories to reach a wider audience and contributed to a deeper understanding of a dark period in history.
Just over 10 years later ‘Freedom In Gold Dust’ once again takes up that mantle but not with a cinematic flourish, more the quiet, insistent power of spoken word. We are introduced to Alvin Arron Coffey, a man whose life story is about the strength of the human spirit, a spirit formed throughout a life of slavery. The live performance of Fred MaGee takes centre stage, and he gives us an impressive performance embodying Coffey with an authenticity that draws us immediately into his story.
The film is basically a one-man show from writer and star MaGee as he delivers a soliloquy that takes us on a journey across the vast, landscape of the American West, and teaches us about human endurance. MaGee, through his nuanced delivery, transforms Coffey’s historical account into a living, breathing testament to the struggles and triumphs of those who sought freedom. There is no grandstanding, just the quiet, unwavering conviction of a man recounting his life.
Director Charley Williams displays strong control across the 18-minute short allowing MaGee’s performance and Coffey’s story to take centre stage. While the occasional visual elements of photographs and video clips help to improve, rather than overshadow, the narrative. The film’s core strength lies in the power of MaGee’s words. William’s use of camera and lighting keeps things simple and focused. It’s easy to spot that his goal is to make you feel like you’re right next to the person speaking. So, you’ll see mid-shots that focus on MaGee’s face and body movements because that’s where all the emotion is. The lighting helps make McGee stand out, with dark shadows and bright spots on the stage. This makes his words feel more powerful. The camera doesn’t move around too much, so you can really pay attention to McGee’s words, while the film’s pacing allows us to fully absorb the weight of Coffey’s experiences allowing us to empathise and reflect on them.
‘Freedom in Gold Dust’ is a film of quiet power that lingers in the mind, telling us about the enduring strength of the human spirit. It is a film that, in all of its simplicity, achieves a lasting impact, a continuous reminder that history is actually not that far back, that it still shapes our present and will do for the foreseeable future.
“Freedom In Gold Dust” is not a film that seeks to entertain as such although it does, it’s a live performance that has been filmed to remind us of the enduring legacy of slavery and the ongoing struggle for equality. It’s a film that helps us to reflect on the sacrifices made by others to enable what many of us take for granted today.
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