The idealist William Wilberforce maneuvers his way through Parliament in 19th century England, endeavoring to end the British transatlantic slave trade. He and other humanitarians wage the first modern political campaign, using petitions, boycotts, and mass meetings to address the issue of slavery.

Sometimes the histories revealed in a movie can triumph even over glossy style. Directed by Michael Apted from a script by the writer/director of Locke, and featuring a young Benedict Cumberbatch, this is a handsome film, but the much contested abolitionist tale is the fascinating discovery.