Rarely, its true, have the cruelties of the antebellum south been so thoroughly catalogued. Theres no doubt that oscar nominations and possibly some wins lie ahead for director steven mcqueens acclaimed drama, 12 years a slave. 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 won the bafta award and the academy award for best picture as well as the golden globe award for best drama. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, solomons chance meeting with. Directed by steve mcqueen hunger, shame and scripted by john ridley red tails, 12 years a slave is a wellcrafted film that uses the topic of slavery in the precivil war u. You may hear some people say how some slaves had it good.
It will be impossible to ever look at gone with the wind the same way after 12 years a slave, a brutally powerful and emotionally devastating film that takes great pains to rip. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. From acclaimed director steve mcqueen comes this moving film based on a true story thats filled with powerful performances. At the beginning of 12 years a slave, the kidnapped freeman. Oct 18, 20 12 years a slave isnt the first movie about slavery in the united states but it may be the one that finally makes it impossible for american cinema to continue to sell the ugly lies. In retelling the harrowing true story of solomon northup. Director steve mcqueen and screenwriter john ridley film were largely faithful northups 1853 biography, twelve years a slave.
To hear some tell it, perhaps hyperbolically but with real conviction, 12 years a slave may be the definitive cinematic treatment of american slavery. Also stream 12 years a slave on your mobile, tablets and ipads plot. 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. Later, as they sleep en masse in tight quarters, a sexual act occurs, but it is committed more out of desperation for human contact than desire. For me 12 years a slave was a very powerful movie which brought me to tears and thoughts. Based on the autobiographical narrative 1853 of solomon northup. 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.
The 12 years a slave quotes below are all either spoken by bass or refer to bass. Read the 12 years a slave movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, as well as unexpected kindnesses, solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man living in upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery.
The movie 12 years a slave is an accurate account of what it was like to be a slave or a free african american in the 1800s. Chiwetel ejiofor as solomon northup in 12 years a slave. Jul 19, 20 12 years a slave is based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. The new movie 12 years a slave has been receiving high praise critic david denby recently described it in the new yorker as easily the greatest.
Review is 12 years a slave really a historically important and powerful film. 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. The recent popular revenge fantasy django unchained notwithstanding, there have been so few good and. 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.
R stands for restricted, which means children under 17 require accompanying parent or adult guardian. 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. However, it fails to make a clearcut statement about the slavery issue or provide new insight on that dark chapter in american history. Steve mcqueens slave drama stars chiwetel ejiofor, michael fassbender and benedict cumberbatch. Twelve years a slave was a originally a memoir written by northup himself that chronicled his life during slavery. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad pitt, it is pitched pretty near perfectly in terms. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by michael fassbender, as well as unexpected kindnesses. All images and subtitles are ed to their respectful owners unless stated otherwise.
Chiwetel ejiofor stars as solomon northup, the new york state citizen who was kidnapped and made to work on a plantation in new orleans in. Its far from comfortable viewing, but 12 years a slaves unflinchingly brutal look at american slavery is also brilliant and quite possibly essential cinema. The critical frame constructed around the movie since its release doesnt diminish. He had a wife, a son, and a daughter he left behind and later on reconciled with after a canadian who opposed slavery played by no less than brad pitt he worked with, helped him by contacting his family and friends.
He worked on plantations in the state of louisiana, where he remained for 12 years until he was released. Bass character analysis in 12 years a slave litcharts. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad. Hes owned by masters relatively kind benedict cumberbatch and harrowingly brutal michael fassbender, but even under the best conditions, the movie never loses. Northup worked on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12 years before his release. Benedict cumberbatch, chiwetel ejiofor in 12 years a slave.
In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. The movie won the bafta award and the academy award for best picture as. Steve mcqueens movie is a work that arouses both interest and respect, but the cinematic experience it offers is ultimately limited in terms of the artistic challenge the movie has set itself. It is a film that stimulates at both an emotional level and an intellectual one. Oct 18, 20 the moving and utterly brutalfilm 12 years a slave tells the real story of soloman northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free africanamerican man living in saratoga who is kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery. What 12 years a slave teaches us about racism today busted halo. It doesnt take long before unclothed bodies show up onscreen in 12 years a slave, as male and female canefield laborers must wash together outside in a yard while the world passes by. The film pulled no punches when dealing with the harsh realities of americas slave trade and the evil acted out by those who took part in it.
The subject matter made 12 years a slave a very uncomfortable film to watch, although some of the actors gave astonishing performances. Twelve years a slave is based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. In 12 years a slave, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, kinky boots, dirty pretty things is a free man living in new york until hes kidnapped and sold in louisiana as a slave. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12. It led me to deep reflections about legalized slavery and all that it portended for our african brothers and sisters who were captured and carried across the ocean to america in that era when the law made it possible for them to become the property of any white person who had the wherewithal. Based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. Chiwetel ejiofor portrays solomon northup and brad pitt is a canadian carpenter who befriends northup. Response to 12 years a slave essay 41 words 5 pages. It is one of the most important of the slave narratives because it was published shortly after harriet beecher stowes immensely popular and influential. In 2014, 12 years a slave was the 10th mostillegally downloaded movie, with 23. Considering the social and economic importance of slavery in americas history, the scarcity of serious films depicting the daily life of slaves in the confederate states is significant especially since the aftereffects from this shameful episode still echo through the culture. The moving and utterly brutalfilm 12 years a slave tells the real story of soloman northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free africanamerican man living in saratoga who is kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery. The only thing that lets this film down is the rather odd beginning and the at times lessthanclear dialogue.
Dec 18, 20 12 years a slave is one of the rare art films thats tackling a subject thats so important and is still such a hot button issue in our society that mainstream audiences are actually compelled. White plantation workers speak in standard redneck cliches. Steve mcqueen, the british video artist who made hunger and shame, spares his audience little. With chiwetel ejiofor, michael kenneth williams, michael fassbender, brad pitt. Is 12 years a slave really a historically important and. The movie is based on the real life and writings of solomon northrup, a free man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery from 184153. 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. This movie was very detailed in what it was like to be an african american slave in the south showing the brutality and violence they suffered at the hands of the white man. Dec 29, 20 a quieter and more realistic sound design also was the approach used on director steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, though drawing from a completely different palette. Emotionally, sometimes even close to physically, it was painful to watch and thats putting it mildly.
Apart from that, it is a very good film, but be prepared to be shocked by some of the violence. In the antebellum united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from. Jan 11, 2014 12 years a slave is not an easy watch and nor should it be.
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