Alice
Alice played by (Keke Palmer) is inspired by the very real-life history of Black Americans who remained enslaved even after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Alice even though still enslaved in 1963, is taught how to read by her cruel owner so that she can read to him on occasion. However, through the learning by reading books, she discovers her urge for freedom and even weds her now-husband without her owner’s consent.
Her husband Joseph played by (Gaius Charles) confides in his father about his plans to run away from the plantation with his wife Alice, however before the couple can even attempt to execute their plan, their owner Paul Bennet played (Jonny Lee Miller) catches onto them and has Joseph killed.
Having lost the love of her life Alice defies her owner by fighting back and screaming incoherently. It was at this stage of the film that for some unknown reason; I fell into a trance when seeing Alice chained up with a face gag, my emotions took over and I started shedding tears uncontrollably at this moment.
From that moment on I felt as if I were right there in the movie side by side with Alice. Keke Palmer deserves to be praised for her breathtaking acting throughout the film, she never once broke character. She resembled both the 1890s and the 1960s themes so will.
The shocking reveal to the audience that Alice had been enslaved years, decades after the Emancipation Proclamation was so painful to see. And to think that even during the 21st Century, there are still Black Americans to this day being enslaved somewhere out there in the United States of America.