DVD review: The Butler (M)

Forrest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines

Slavery has had its moment in the spotlight over the past 12 months with the Oscar-winning 12 Years A Slave and, to some extent, The Butler.

The Butler gives us an insight into the 20th Century and black oppression through the parallels it draws between the political landscape of the time and the life of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), the black butler to eight US presidents.

Based loosely on the life of Eugene Allen, this is a real eye-opener to the abhorrent things that went on.

Gaines began serving white people after his father was shot dead by a white landholder in the Deep South, after his mother was raped by the same man.

Learning to serve the white man while being "invisible in the room", Gaines soon becomes very good at what he does.

Some years later, now married with two sons, Gaines is spotted serving in an upmarket Washington DC hotel by a senior White House official.

And so he goes on to serve and listen to events as they unfold in the White House while attending to the latest president.

But tearing Gaines in two is his eldest son Louis (David Oyelowo) - a strong, intelligent young man with a thirst for equality and justice.

As a university student, he becomes involved in the fight for Civil Rights. His peaceful protesting leads him to numerous stints in prison.

Gaines also sees things from the other side as he watches presidents from Eisenhower onwards ignore or react to the Civil Rights Movement.

This is fascinating story about the slow emergence of black equality and basic human rights for all.

Watch the trailer here: