Writer by Kenzie Kesselring, Staff Writer

A movie adaptation on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is not a new idea. The story has been done, but never before through the artistic scope of the writer/director team of Paul Webb and Ava DuVernay.

Despite being snubbed at the Oscar’s, “Selma” has received high praise for its astounding performances. This film not only surprised many critics, but it restarted a social commentary that still holds relevance today.

“Selma” was rich with history and a sense of spirituality. It allowed the audience to see the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, in a way that you didn’t experience in your history classes. “Selma” was engaging, captivating and all around inspiring.

The movie explores the inside stories of the King’s less than perfect marriage, but shows how they overcame all of the challenges they faced and pushed through the Civil Rights Movements as partners.

The passionate acting from lead actor David Oyelowo makes viewers feel like they are standing in front of Dr. King himself. Supporting actresses Carmen Ejogo and Oprah Winfrey do a beautiful job showing how life was for women on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement.

Throughout the movie, the differences between the 1960s and today will help audience members see how far society has come, but also make them realize how far we still have to go. The relations between police officials and citizens in “Selma” are relevant to issues Americans have seen in the recent months, making it a must see for movie lovers.

Any history buffs looking to be enthralled for two hours should see “Selma.” The historical realism of this film is part of its charm. The director included time stamps from actual documents that were kept on MLK and his family, and actual video clips from the Selma march.

This awe-inspiring and inspirational movie is not one to be missed and it is a great way to celebrate the recent MLK holiday.