Set in the 1860s, the film follows (Smith), who escapes a Louisiana plantation after a near-fatal whipping. He must navigate the treacherous, alligator-infested swamps to reach Baton Rouge and join the Union Army .
: This was Smith's first major project following the controversial 2022 Oscars "slap". While he was banned from attending Academy events for 10 years, he remained eligible for nominations. Emancipation(2023)
: Cinematographer Robert Richardson used a monochrome, desaturated palette with occasional flickers of color to evoke the look of authentic 19th-century photography. The 2023 Awards Season Impact Set in the 1860s, the film follows (Smith),