Product Details

• Actors: Djimon Hounsou, Maka Kotto
• Directors: Guy Deslauriers
• Writers: Claude Chonville, Patrick Chamoiseau, Walter Mosley
• Producers: David Gaines, Shelby Stone, Yasmina Hou-You-Fat
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• VHS Release Date: February 4, 2003
• Run Time: 78 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00007M5KR
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,749 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opener, October 9, 2003

By 

MaryBeth Patterson (Ludlow, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Middle Passage [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I used this video in my sophomore World History class when we were studying the beginnings of sea trade in the 1500s. This film was a major eye opener for my kids, as well as a vehicle allowing me to learn a few new things. Most of my students knew little or nothing about where and how the slave trade began, let alone the "contribution" made to this hideous practice by those who would become our nations forbears. They do now.

This film gave us a lot to talk about and was truly both an eye opener and a paradigm shifter. An excellent film in content, both historically and cinematically. I highly recommend this to any audience with a maturity level to handle the extreme emotion evoked by the suffering and heartache laid bare on the screen. Parents and teachers - be ready to discuss some hard truths with your kids. Excellently done!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING!Everyone shares the blame for this mess!!, March 12, 2007

By 

KerrLines ""Movies,Music,Theatre"" (Baltimore,MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Middle Passage (DVD)

Everyone is to blame for the holocaust of millions of innocent people in the slave trade;such is the sad and sorry conclusion eloquently reached in this poetic rumination by one African manslave who endured the betrayal of HIS OWN PEOPLE into the hands of greedy Europeans who carried him and fellow Africans to The Americas.The slave route was known as The Middle Passge.What this particular man notes that what is worse?-the treatment he received by the slaveship seamen, or the abduction and genocide that he experienced at the hands of his fellow Africans? On a 120+ days voyage in deplorable conditions aboard a French Vessel, this one man speaks for the 600+ souls with him and the untold millions before and after him.MOVING,POIGNENT and MAGNIFICENTLY done by HBO and narrated by Djimon Hounsou,who was the Golden Globe nominated actor for his role as Cinque in AMISTAD.This narrative film was written by Walter Mosely of "The Devil in the Blue Dress" fame.Excellent companion films would be the current AMAZING GRACE,A RESPECTABLE TRADE,AMISTAD,ROOTS and AMISTAD:The Documentary.

24 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not good for middle school students, better for high school, May 24, 2006

By 

Naimah "creative spirit" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Middle Passage (DVD)

Even though this is presented as the story of a slave, it's not really set up with a plot, characters etc. My students found it hard to follow because it is lacking typical narrative elements - and it is presented more like a philosophical & reflective journey. The excessive voice-over narration and advanced vocabulary were also confusing for the students. It did not keep the student's attention. I think this is film is better suited for older students.