8- The Michigan Daily - Friday, February 6, 1998 'Amistad' panel distinguishes film's fact from fiction By Geordy Gantsoudes Daily Arts Writer "Amistad," the newest film by acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, tells the story of a slave revolt aboard the Spanish ship, "La Amistad." Academics discussed the accuracy of the informa- tion that was used in the silver screen production Wednesday in the Pendleton Room in the Union. Associate Provost for Academic and Multicultural Affairs and Music Prof. Lester Monts, Associate Director of Academic and Multicutural Initiatives Patrick Pieh, Graduate Student Research Assistant at the Office of Academic and Multicutural Initiatives Amhad Rahman, and Afro-American and African Studies Graduate Student Instructor Gail Drakes led the lecture and discussion. The panel came to the consensus that the numerous liberties taken by the makers of the film "took away" from those who lived through what actually occurred. Pieh began the discussion by retelling the historical events that inspired the film. A direct descendant of Joseph Cinque (n6e Sengbe Pieh), the rebel- lion's leader, Pieh had a great deal of information to share about the revolt. Unlike the movie's representation, the effects of the Cinque's actions were not just felt in the United States. The name Pieh brings adoration in northeast Africa, specifically Sierra Leone, home of Cinque and Pich. The panel frequently addressed the role that white people played in the free- dom of the slaves. Pieh read a quote by the author of an article about the events, Khalid Lum: "Freedom must be achieved, not handed out." Pieh said that even though the abolitionists fought the good fight, they did not truly make their presence known until the revolt. Drakes continued on this theme, stat- ing that American films featuring civil rights battles include a "white hero" and "the denial of black agency." She cited specific films, such as "Mississippi Burning,' a film that was supposed to be about the triple homicide of civil rights fighters but instead evolved into a story about the relationship between the two white FBI agents. "Ghosts of Mississippi," a movie about the bringing to justice of the mur- derer of civil rights champion Medgar Evers, also falls into this category. The plot instead focuses on the internal strug- gle of the white prosecuting attorney. Rahman voiced his criticism of EMILY NATHAN/Daily Afro-American and African Studies Graduate Student instructor Gail Drakes took part in a panel Wednesday on the truths and fallacies of the film "Amistad." Spielberg's depiction of Tappan, the the first African mission society and two leading abolitionist involved in the free- institutions of higher education, includ- dom of the "Amistad" slaves. ing Howard University. In a critical scene in the movie, Furthermore, Joadson did not exist in Tappan (Stellan SkarsgArd) says to real life; he was a compilation of several Joadson (Morgan Freeman) that may abolitionists. This is another dramatic better serve their cause if the slaves lost element panelists said was unnecessary. the trial and were sent to Cuba and exe- There were many prominent black aboli- cuted. Rahman said this is a false char- tionists who could have been used acterization of a good man - a man instead of the fictional black abolitionist who was responsible for the founding of Joadson, Rahman said. 'Sergei' reflects Gordeeva's Olympic triumph, heartbreaking personal loss By Anna Kovalszkl Daily Arts Writer With the opening of the 1998 Winter Olympics of Nagano today, TV stations are pulling out all the stops to catch viewers and get them into the mpod in time for the festivities. Representatives from nations all over the world are hoping to do their countrymen proud in Nagano, while the rest of the world will be watching the Olympics at home. CBS offers primary coverage of the winter games. Wednesday night, the network broadcast a sports special about the love story of two-time pairs skating Olympic gold medalists Ekaterina Gordeeva and her late hus- band, Sergei Grinkov. Yes, this was primarily a love story, bit it also included many of their past memorable performances. Through Ekaterina's remem- brances, and based on her autobiogra- phy, "My Sergei," we see the two skater's lives from their births to their initial skating partnership, and then through their blossoming friendship, successes and finally love. Many aspects of the documentary- like story were wonderfully shown. The interviews, with fellow skaters, such as Kristi Yamaguchi, Victor Petrenko and Paul Wylie often inter- pretations of their Russian friends' lives. The segments of and sometimes full-length skating programs and com- petitions allowed us to see the growth of the skaters, both physically and artistically. Photographs with narrated My Sergei CBS Feb. 4, 8 p m. descriptions and real footage of the skaters showed the harsh reality, glamour and everyday happenings of their world. One device used that only contributed a shallow, some- what cheesy atmosphere - She sometimes stumbles with her grammar, or her emotions. She tells the story of her 26-year- old life. Professionally, she has already won Russian, European and world championships and two Olympic medals. She won the first Olympic medal when she was just 16. On the personal side, she has been married and widowed, has a daughter, wrote a book and is now a solo skater. "My Sergei," which became num- ber one on The New York Times.-best- seller list, is a memoir written for Gordeeva's daughter in remembrance of her partner and husband. She want- ed Daria to know of her father and wrote the book soon after his death, "before his lovely echo fades, as it inevitably will, with time ..." As we anxiously await the show- downs between Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan, Todd Eldredge and Elvis Stojko, Jenni Meno and Todd Sand and other pairs skaters, the CBS special awarded us the opportunity to get warmed up by watching the skat- ing world's earlier success stories. Although their time together ended too soon, Gordeeva and Grinkov's story was retold honestly and with a charm rarely seen these days. the re-enactment of small scenes from Ekaterina's and Sergei's lives. The actors are shown in haze, obvi- ously not the actual skaters. The dramatizations were not necessary to make the story poignant; that was achieved solely by Ekaterina's simple narrative. She speaks a soft, accented English. I 1 I I~I The University of Michigan School of Music f l Friday, February 6 - Sunday, February 8 University Dance Company The Choreography of Geography Power Center, 8p.m. (Friday & Saturday), 2 p.m. (Sunday) Admission $18, $14; for more information phone 734-764-0450 Friday, February 6 Guest Master Class Dale Warland, choral conductor Britton Recital Hall, E. V. Moore Bldg., 11 a.m. Guest Recital Darryl Taylor, tenor, presents African American song literature Britton Recital Hall, E.V. Moore Bldg., 8 p.m. Opera Workshop A presentation of staged art song McIntosh Theatre, E. V. Moore Bldg., 7 p.m. Saturday, February 7 Contemporary Directions Ensemble Kevin Sedatole, music director Music by UM composers-- " Andrew Mead: Fantasy, a quartet " Evan Chambers: Deep Flowers " Erik Santos: Guernica Dances " Stephen Rush: Sextet " James Aikman: Fantasy for Violin and Electro- acoustic Tape " Michael Daugherty: Dead Elvis Rackham Lecture Hall, 8 p.m. Monday, February 9 Composers Forum Britton Recital Hall, E. V. Moore Bldg., 8 p.m. Tuesday, February 10 University Philharmonia Orchestra Pier Calabria, conductor " Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 "Scottish" " Bizet: L'Arlesienne Suites Nos. I and 2 Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m. Wednesday, February 11 Guest Master Class casts from Norway, with a record and a 42 audience share. There were very obvious reason ing on the Nancy Kerrigan-Tony opera that played out in the weeks I and coming to a denouement durin time, the whole story should be o RESUMES and aired in prime time, the better 20Stock.85xIis expected to be 58 percent femal Because of the 14-hour time di wil be shown live, including a women's Alpine skiing, starting pelling me's downhill on Saturda3 Japan, it's 8 p.m, the previous nigi CANOE! obviously all skiing competition i COLOR LASER day to assure the best snow condit NoEd"tng,8.5X 1I There also is expected to be intr tion, with the NHL suspending its to allow its best players to compe tries. No Olympic event, sUmtnl match the United States vs. the Placid. N.Y, in 1980 in a sem C PY NAmericans won their "Miracle or 611 ChUrch Street NHL officials are clearly hoping THE CHOREOGRAPHY Must-Ski TV: Olympic events you need to watch this weekend, OF GEOGRAPHY I - ~ I UVILI4 ,ccu Jvua Ya. .a.a a..as.. a. vau uaw .. .. ... ..... .. ..... a..... .. ,. ..... . .... ....