Overview

In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed slave Theodore Joadson wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin to help his case. Eventually, John Quincy Adams also becomes an ally.

Cast

Morgan Freeman

Theodore Joadson

Nigel Hawthorne

Martin Van Buren

Anthony Hopkins

John Quincy Adams

Djimon Hounsou

Cinque

Matthew McConaughey

Roger Sherman Baldwin

David Paymer

Secretary John Forsyth

Pete Postlethwaite

Holabird

Stellan Skarsgård

Tappan

Razaaq Adoti

Yamba

N/A

Abu Bakaar Fofanah

Fala

Anna Paquin

Queen Isabella

Tomas Milian

Calderon