The Great Debaters is a 2007 American historical drama film directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay by Robert Eisele. The movie is based on a true story and follows the trials and tribulations of the Wiley College debate team in 1935 Texas.
The plot revolves around the efforts of debate coach Melvin B. Tolson at Wiley College, a historically black college related to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to place his team on equal footing with whites in the American South during the 1930s, when Jim Crow laws were common and lynch mobs were a fear for African Americans.
The Wiley team eventually succeeds to the point where they are able to debate Harvard University. The movie explores social constructs in Texas during the Great Depression, from day-to-day insults African Americans endured to lynching. The Great Debaters was released in theaters on December 25, 2007, to positive critical reception.
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While there is no information on notable challenges during the production of The Great Debaters, there are some criticisms of the film. One review from the Monterey County Weekly states that the movie provides an unrealistic portrait of debate teams, while another from the WSWS claims that the film touches on important historical issues but does not explain much about the period in which it is set.
The Great Debaters explores several themes, including the power of education, the importance of knowledge, and the fight against racism and discrimination. The movie shows how education can be a powerful tool to overcome adversity and achieve success, as demonstrated by the Wiley College debate team's journey to compete against Harvard University. The film also highlights the importance of knowledge in fulfilling desires and achieving goals.
The movie also touches on the themes of race, gender, and identity. The challenges that the team and their coach faced made them stronger and more determined to achieve their goals.
The Great Debaters was generally well-received by critics and audiences alike, although some critics have criticized the film for its unrealistic portrayal of debate teams and for not providing enough historical context.
The opening setting of The Great Debaters is established in Marshall, a small town in Texas, in the year 1935. The setting immediately establishes a place where racial segregation is deeply rooted. The film immerses viewers in the vibrant African-American culture of the 1930s, from the music to the dialect, providing a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs of the characters.
The movie also features various settings where the Wiley College debate team competes against other colleges, including Oklahoma City University, Langston University, and Harvard University.
While there is limited information on the settings used in the film, it is likely that the movie used various settings to convey the historical context of the story and to immerse viewers in the world of the characters.
Director: Denzel Washington
Writer: Robert Eisele
Box Office Gross: $30,271,556
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Genre: Drama, Biography, Romance
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2007
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 14, 2017
