Just the title of the movie, ‘Lincoln,’ would send most people running for the hills, thinking it a history lesson put in film format. In reality, the Steven Spielberg directed film was a suspenseful, emotional, and often humorous film that really puts the viewer in the shoes of our sixteenth president during one of the most tumultuous times in history.

The film starts with a Civil War battle, bloody, dark and ugly. It then cuts to two African-American soldiers talking to a man about their respective regiments. The camera pans to reveal the man as president Lincoln, and we get to follow him for a large part of the movie.

As the plot progresses, watchers learn that Lincoln just won the election and will be re-sworn into office in a month. Before then, he wants to pass the thirteenth amendment: the amendment to the constitution that abolishes slavery. Even taking the Republican’s votes for granted, they need twenty more to have two-thirds of the House, the minimum needed for something to pass.

While that alone is stressful and controversial enough, he also has to worry about the Civil war, laden with casualties on both sides and his own home life. His oldest son wants to join the army and his wife is grief stricken over the death of a different son, who passed away in the previous year.

Other than Lincoln, the story also focuses on a trio of Democrats trying to sway other members of their party, and they provide a large amount of comic relief with their spirited, sometimes unrefined personalities.

Thaddeus Stevens, a strong willed, stubborn, outspoken Republican is another person the movie follows. He is advocating complete equality for African Americans, a position which could lose votes for the amendment.

As the day of the vote draws near, the audience is on the edge of their seat, laughing at Lincoln’s anecdotes and crying at his personal burdens and hardships.

Overall, the movie exceeded expectations, digging into history and uprooting the drama just below the surface, reminding us that the names we see in textbooks were real people struggling through real trials, everyday and otherwise. Viewers anticipate the ending, even when they know the outcome. It was a surprisingly spectacular movie, and is definitely worth seeing.