Plot
Marshall, Texas described by James Farmer, Jr. as "the last city to surrender after the civil war," is home Wiley College, where, in 1935-36, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and his clandestine work as union organizer, Professor Melvin Tolson coaches the debate team to nearly-undefeated season that sees the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges and ends with an invitation to face Harvard University's national champions. The team of four, which includes a female student and a very young James Farmer, is tested in a crucible heated by Jim Crow, sexism, a lynch mob, an arrest and near riot, a love affair, jealousy, and a national radio audience.
The Great Debaters focuses on the black people who in deep help, because of the co-fellowmen in the country did not accept them because of their color, but still they are African and belong to the country, they are also human and need of fellowmen and this Debaters is the key of winning the position to be equal in the white people.
When the time that the Debaters arriving to Harvard to debate the big people and intelligent people in the school because Harvard school is the one of the famous school that the student there was very genius and intelligent students,
While most Educators may not have recognized the remarkable potential of assembling such a disparate team, Tolson's unique vision truly set him apart from the pack as the team begins to experience a series of consecutive victories on their road to challenging Harvard at the National Championships.
The Great Debaters strive hard for their fellowmen black people there are lots of challenges to them such as training and contest, yet despite his formidable reputation , James Sr. has not yet learned how to truly harness the power of knowledge through action and assertion. James Jr has been the raving effects of racism all around him, and longs to live in a future where no one must be in fear simply because of the color of their skin.
For us Filipino we are equal in property of our country there is no discrimination yet pity the problem to us is financial, so, in that I am so happy because even though like that but still we are united and peace.
The Great Debaters is one of the film I like and favorite also, because this film we get lots of values such as give privilege to every people in the country and treat them as human like us and also to get the justice of having unfair judgment the white people and black people.
Conflict
When the time that Melvin B. Tolson did not go with them, to go in the Harvard University to join them in debating the other team, even its hard for the Great Debaters that they did not go with Melvin Tolson but they look it as inspiration and to pursue their aim that they had to win for their fellow black people and when Farmer Jr. step to the crowd and start to say, all the people superior persons in the crowd will at ease and no voice was hear because of the point that Farmer Jr. want to tell to the white people their experiences and being an equal to the white people.
Characters
a.)Protagonist:
- Melvin Tolson
- James Farmer Jr.
- Henry Lowe
- Samantha Booke
- Hamilton Burgess
b.) Antagonist:
- Pig Owner
- White People
- Pig Farmer
c.) Round/Dynamic d.) Flat/Statistic
- James Farmer Sr.
- Pearl Farmer
- Nathaniel Farmer
- Helen Farmer
- Ruth Tolson
e.) Main/Principal Characters
- James Farmer Sr.
- Helen Farmer
- Ruth Tolson
- Sheriff Dozier
f.) Minor/Suppoting Characters
- Deputy
- Harvard Debater #1
- Pig owner
- Pig Farmer
Theme
Desire to an equality of individual specially to those black people they strive hard for the betterment of being discriminate by the white people in the country.
To respect each individual in this world of having peace and reconciliation between the two people.
Setting
Professor Melvin B. Tolson, Denzel Washington, is head of the debate team at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas in 1935. Wiley College is a small, all African-American school where the debate team succeeded in beating the national champions, and followed the win with 10 undefeated years of competition. The film follows Tolson and his team of 4 students as they research, compete, and journeys through a difficult time in history.
Point of View
Based on a true story set in 1935, Denzel Washington stars as Professor Tolson – the debate team coach at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. The African-American university has brought some of the best and brightest to this small town, but Professor Tolson is out to prove something more. As debate coach, he drives the team to be better than they ever thought possible, and, as they start to dominate in debates with other African-American colleges, Professor Tolson reaches out to white colleges hoping the challenges will bring attention to the university and its students.
As the team starts to fight amongst itself, and Professor Tolson’s personal controversies threaten his standing at the school and in the community, will the great debaters continue to win and get that high profile match they seek? it’s easy to say The Great Debaters is predictable and formulaic, but the formula here leads to an inspirational movie full of emotional highs and lows, and victories that will make you cheer, and you wouldn’t want it any other way. As director, Washington makes speechifying as exciting as a touchdown run!
Writer Robert Eisele creates a script full of conflicts that bring out the most in each character and each actor. We see racial struggles, political confrontations, a unionization battle, the impact of the Great Depression, debate over the New Deal, and even an old fashioned love triangle. Making it even more interesting, Eisele and Washington show us how these struggles play out between families, team members, citizens of the community and more, which personalizes the bigger themes as we watch revolutionaries battle with those just trying to cope, and understand each person’s point of view. The Great Debaters is the most thought provoking movie of the year, in addition to being the most heart provoking movie of the year. The amazing acting ensemble helps make it so.
Even the best writing can’t overcome weak acting, so imagine how good The Great Debaters is with a cast of Oscar winning pros and rising young talents. Washington sets the tone as the firebrand leading the charge, bringing his usual mind blowing intensity, which is wonderful countered by Forest Whitaker’s quiet, non-confrontational approach as the town’s leading minister, and parent of one of the debate team members. While Washington grabs our attention with his demonstrative actions, Whitaker is just as wonderful as the guy afraid to rock the boat, but still proud and trying to do what is right for his family. Then, we get to see some of the brightest young talent in movies today.
While Washington and Whitaker draw you into the theater, this trio of young people makes you realize it is the debaters’ story. Nate Parker is reminiscent of a young Denzel Washington bringing the same intensity and fire to his role as the young and troubled Henry Lowe. Denzel Whitaker (no relation to Forest) as young James Farmer, Jr., plays a character that could easily become ridiculous and annoying and fall into clichés, but makes him a likable, heartbreaking, talented teen who suffers as he confronts those painful moments that every person must go through to become an adult. Then, Jurnee Smollett shines as she graduates from child actor to star as the debater who has given up the most to pursue her dreams, but also has to deal with heart ache and frightening new experiences along the way. It’s a mature performance that also gives her a chance to show her character’s playful half and the maturity deep inside.
