Despite being excited to see it during its original theatrical run by the time 12 years a slave was winning gold statues left, right and centre i had begun to question whether this true life story of a freeman kidnapped into slavery wasnt just another awardsbaiting movie masquerading as a worthy prestige picture. Watch 12 years a slave in the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Oct 17, 20 12 years a slave starts its true story in 1841 when solomon northup british actor chiwetel ejiofor, a violin player living free in new york with his wife and children, gets tricked into a job in. A group of slaves stand in a sugarcane field, bedraggled but resolute, looking into the camera. In hunger, his debut feature, mcqueen rendered the brutal captivity of irish republican army martyr bobby sands as an ostentatious museum exhibit. In 1841, african american solomon northup, a free man, is kidnapped and forced into slavery under the name platt for 12 years. Despite its limited release, critical acclaim has been. Steve mcqueen deserves every gong going for his unflinching portrayal of slavery, writes mark kermode. Twelve years a slave is based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. Jan 26, 2014 12 years a slave is a powerful film that is based on the true and horrific story of solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free man sold into slavery. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and endure those 12 years as a slave.
R stands for restricted, which means children under 17 require accompanying parent or adult guardian. The first scholarly edition o northups memoir, coeditit in 1968 bi sue eakin an. Like hunger and shame before it, 12 years a slave is a chronicle of the body as a prison. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Williams, michael fassbender, paul dano and paul giamatti written by john ridley based on the book by solomon northup. Best performance by an actress in a supporting role. I thought chiwetel ejiofor as solomon northup acted with incredible intensity, as did michael fassbender, who played northups violent and sadistic master, edwin epps. I have never seen a film represent slavery so accurately. Its far from comfortable viewing, but 12 years a slave s unflinchingly brutal look at american slavery is also brilliant and quite possibly essential cinema. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, as well as unexpected kindnesses, solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. The film refuses to imply that his individual emancipation is a victory for all africanamericans, especially when it is barely a victory for northrup himself. Essay 12 years a slave grade 96% ccj4934sya4930 studocu. Last week i caught up with oscar nominated film, 12 years a slave. But i would like a film about native americans abuse, they were killed, abused and have no.
Im very aware that seeing this film along with steve mcqueen crowned by oscar is nearly erasing 85 years of history in the academy. Based on a true story, 12 years a slave is a riveting account of a free black man kidnapped and sold into brutal slavery in mid1850s louisiana, and the inspiring story of his desperate. Written by john ridley, based on twelve years a slave by solomon northup. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by michael fassbender, as well as unexpected kindnesses, solomon. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad. Despite its limited release, critical acclaim has been given to the score from the film industry. This gripping film features an allstar cast, including benedict cumberbatch, brad pitt, paul dano and newcomer lupita nyongo. Jan 10, 2014 as henry louis gates jr, an expert on slave narratives and consultant on the film 12 years a slave, has noted, literacy was the very commodity that separated animal from human being, slave from. The intense narrative of solomon northup, freeman kidnapped and taken to the south, is an exceptional story accompanied by exceptional cinematography. Based on a true story, 12 years a slave is a riveting account of a free black man kidnapped and sold into brutal slavery in mid1850s louisiana, and the inspiring story of his desperate struggle to return home to his family. The protagonist of schindlers list was a german with a conscience. There was no equality, no rights, simply man and his property.
The only thing that lets this film down is the rather odd beginning and the at times lessthanclear dialogue. Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner michael fassbender, he also finds unexpected kindness from another, as he struggles continually to survive and maintain some of his dignity. As steve mcqueens oscar favourite 12 years a slave opens at cinemas, sarah churchwell returns to the 1853 memoir that inspired it one of. His followup, shame, was a heroically performed peep show as art installation, and one that confirmed mcqueens fixation on bodily experience and almost. By getting it wrong by noah berlatsky, the atlantic, oct. He wirked on plantations in the state o louisiana for twelve years afore his release. During his traumatic time in captivity, solomon learns the difference between living and surviving and has. During his traumatic time in captivity, solomon learns the difference between living and surviving and has to decide which path he wants to follow. The movie was released in 20 starring chiwetel ejiofor as solomon northup, benedict cumberbatch, and brad pitt.
Jan 11, 2014 12 years a slave is not an easy watch and nor should it be. The incredible cinematography of 12 years a slave kat clay. Its clear from the start that this movie isnt content to simply be viewed. The movie won the bafta award and the academy award for best picture as well as the golden globe award for best drama. Epps is solomon s third and most inhumane master, whom solomon serves for ten years. His third movie, 12 years a slave, takes on the institution of american slavery, a subject that comes so loaded with potential blowback that few artists ever attempt to deal with it headon.
The subject matter made 12 years a slave a very uncomfortable film to watch, although some of the actors gave astonishing performances. Sep 14, 20 long before samuel bass brad pitt, a canadian carpenter and abolitionist, arrives on the scene, just in time to remind us, virtuously though not fallaciously, that the freedom of blacks from slavery wouldnt have been possible without great risk on the part of whites, 12 years a slave has announced itself as a compromised vision. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12. Its strange how awards can change your expectations for a film. Yet in 12 years a slave, northrups triumph over slavery is set against the permanent context of an oppressed community in which we see him operate. Sep 19, 20 12 years a slave bande annonce vost realise par steve mc queen avec chiwetel ejiofor, michael fassbender, brad pitt, benedict cumberbatch, quvenzhane wallis, paul dano, sarah paulson, alfre. Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner michael fassbender, he also finds unexpected kindness from another. About the film in the years before the civil war, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofo r, a free black man from upstate new york, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south. Twelve years a slave study guide contains a biography of solomon northup, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. He faces the hardships of being a slave under the hands of a few different slave owners.
In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, solomons chance meeting with a canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life. The movie twelve years a slave was based on the slave narrative written by solomon northup. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Solomon northup, an educated black man with a gift for music, lives with his wife and children in new york.
If you like 12 years a slave you are looking for heartbreaking, bleak and emotional movies about with slavery, life is a bitch, racism, freedom, torture, interracial relations and civil rights themes of biography, drama and history genre shot in uk or usa. Its so many other things, too, as others have noted. White plantation workers speak in standard redneck cliches. Slavery was one of the most awful things of humanity.
Apart from that, it is a very good film, but be prepared to be shocked by some of the violence. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. Response to 12 years a slave essay 41 words 5 pages. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad pitt, it is pitched pretty near perfectly in terms. In the antebellum united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Movies like 12 years a slave if you like 12 years a slave you are looking for heartbreaking, bleak and emotional movies about with slavery, life is a bitch, racism, freedom, torture, interracial relations and civil rights themes of biography, drama and history genre shot in uk or usa. His abduction as a free man, his resulting transformation into a slave and his detainment as a slave irreversibly altered the course of his life. Its far from comfortable viewing, but 12 years a slaves unflinchingly brutal look at american slavery is also brilliant and quite possibly essential cinema. Chiwetel ejiofor 12 years a slave part 2 from betrayal to acceptance learn how chiwetel ejiofor portrayed an emotional transformation in a pivotal scene from 12 years a slave on this episode of fandango frontrunners. With chiwetel ejiofor, michael kenneth williams, michael fassbender, brad pitt. National catholic register 12 years a slave made me angry, and grateful, in ways i didnt always anticipate the film, directed by british filmmaker steve mcqueen, been compared to schindlers list, a comparison that, in some ways, does it a disservice.
The record contains twentyone tracks from the original film score written and composed by hans zimmer. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by michael fassbender, as well as unexpected kindnesses. Based on the autobiographical narrative 1853 of solomon northup. His abduction as a free man, his resulting transformation into a slave and his detainment as. Epps is married to mistress epps, and the two have at least two children, although only one, young master read full character analysis bass is a kindhearted white carpenter from canada who works on a construction project for edwin epps. An analysis of sean bobbitts superb 12 years a slave cinematography.