Sally Hemmings

Sally Hemmings

Introduction

The story of the extraordinary, controversial thirty-eight-year relationship between Thomas Jefferson and his slave mistress, Sally Hemings. The teenage Sally begins her unexpected relationship with widower Thomas Jefferson in Paris where he is serving as the U.S. Ambassador to France. After escorting Jefferson's younger daughter on a trans-Atlantic journey to join him in Paris, Sally is soon exposed to a world quite unlike the one in which she has lived as an illiterate slave in Monticello. While Sally serves as a nanny of sorts, Jefferson provides her with an education, fine clothes and opportunities to experience cultural events(Jefferson d 12). She and her brother, James, who works as Jefferson's chef and was also educated by him, delight in the fact that they are free in France-and are treated with respect. It is under these circumstances that Sally and Jefferson become acquainted with one another and begin an affair that will ultimately lead to scandal.

Discussion

From the beginning to the end of this movie, Carmen Ejogo channeled the multiple complexities of Sally Hemmings beautifully! The mix of emotions so eloquently portrayed by Sam Neil very poignantly captured the essence of forbidden love becoming true love. As a decendant of slaves and native americans, I was as saddened as I was grateful at this excellent depiction of how slaves suffered. However painful the story overall, the fire and deep love shared between Sally and President Jefferson as depicted, was so intoxicating, you only hope to know such a great love in your own lifetime. I hope to see more of Carmen Ejogo. Despite the lingering question of how much of this tale is history and how much is fiction, it is a most fascinating, entertaining, and challenging story of forbidden love. This movie is three hours long, but it may ...