Lincoln (2012)

Lincoln (2012) — Overview Set in January 1865 as the American Civil War nears its conclusion, Lincoln follows President Abraham Lincoln’s determined, high-stakes effort to secure passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to permanently abolish slavery. With the Senate already in favor, the decisive battle is in the House of Representatives, where Lincoln and his closest advisers must cajole, compromise with, and sometimes outmaneuver reluctant lawmakers — including Democrats and wavering Republicans — before peace arrives and the returning southern states can block the amendment. Alongside the political maneuvers, the film shows Lincoln’s private struggles: his moral anguish over whether to press for abolition at the possible cost of prolonging bloodshed, tensions at home with Mary Todd Lincoln, and the personal cost of leadership. What you’ll experience - A tense, intimate political drama that feels like watching history through the confidential rooms where decisions are made: parliamentary wrangling, backroom bargaining, and deliberate political strategy. - Emotional, character-driven scenes that reveal Lincoln’s humanity and conscience, contrasted with the pragmatic, often ruthless necessities of politics. - Moments of domestic life that ground the grand historical stakes in personal loss, love, and doubt. - A slow-burning, morally weighty tone that balances suspense (the race to get enough votes) with reflective, elegiac moments about the cost of war and the meaning of freedom. Themes include leadership, the moral responsibilities of power, the workings of democracy, and the human cost of great change. The film is a measured, powerful look at a pivotal moment in American history that combines political suspense with deep emotional resonance.

Actors: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn

Director: Steven Spielberg

Runtime: 150 min

Genres: Biography, Drama, History

6.3 /10 87 /100 7.3 /10 7.4 /10