The seven-episode series starring Ethan Hawke revisits a powerful chapter in American history by bringing the notorious abolitionist John Brown back to our homes, and to our political discourse
There are two ways with which you open a film/series: one way is to establish the plot and introduce the characters and the other is, establish the central characters and then the plot. The Good Lord Bird opens in the latter fashion and uses the oldest narrative technique: flashback. “What a beautiful country,” says John Brown (Ethan Hawke, in a dense baritone), moments before his execution by hanging.
Is he a political prisoner, a lunatic or a freedom fighter? Everything above, believes Henry Shackleford, in whose eyes we see John Brown and his ragtag army of anti-slavery soldiers who fought for freedom and equality among all colours. If you are unfamiliar with the legend of John…