Selma is a film about Martin Luther King influencing President Johnson to change his mind about legally enforcing the right of every citizen to vote. Pivotal in his campaign was the staging of a non-violent march of disenfranchised black people between Selma, Alabama, and the state capital, Montgomery. Although black people were legally entitled to vote, they were prevented from registering to vote in many of the Southern states.The film holds no punches in its graphic portrayal of violent and institutional racism in the Deep South, and given the apparent resurgence of racism demonstrated by the events leading to the Ferguson riots in Alabama last year, it should come as no surprise that this stunning film has not met the praise it deserves from the American public, where is has already been on release.

British actor, David Oyelowo’s sensitive portrayal of MLK is equally stark. We see a man with flaws, tense with fear along with his indomitable conviction of the urgent need to further the cause of black rights. One easily relates to the sense of King’s heavy responsibility and inner turmoil.

The audience was so captivated by the film that at one point - when the rednecks were getting their comeuppance - a very audible “I should jolly well think so!”, expressed the feelings in the packed movie theatre.

The most magical scene was between King and his wife, Coretta (Carmen Ejogo) with a long exchange regarding their weariness with the daily death threats to Martin and their children, and attempts by the FBI to weaken their relationship. It was beautifully crafted by the female director Ava DuVernay, illustrating the depths of King’s humanity, and in his remorse for the suffering he had brought upon his family.

One cannot witness the brutal assault by the fully armed state security force on a peaceful march on the Edmund Pettus bridge by King's supporters and feel anything other than revulsion. It's impossible to lay these feelings to rest as past events from which we have moved on given the increasing racial unrest worldwide. Interestingly, wealthy black Americans are funding free screenings of Selma to America school children.

John Legend and Common have already received a Golden Globe for best original song 2015 with 'Glory' and one can only hope that further glories are heaped on this hugely important film.