After watching the award winning movie 12 years a slave in history i felt nearly obligated to read solomon northrups 12 years a slave. Like other depictions, the film attests the slaves oppressors using religion to validate the status quo. Finally, lets talk about 12 years a slave cinesnark. I could not believe that i had never heard of this book. Having no way to contact his family, and fearing for his life if he told the truth, solomon northup was sold from plantation to plantation in louisiana, toiling under cruel masters for twelve years before meeting samuel bass, a canadian who. The trailer suggests that 12 years a slave is an altogether more conventional movie than hunger or shame, the directors two previous features. What do african americans think of the film 12 years a. But a canadian abolitionist who plays a small but crucial role in northups story argues that slavery is contrary to. John ridley screenplay by, solomon northup based on twelve years a slave by. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad pitt, it is pitched pretty near perfectly in terms. Michael fassbender and steve mcqueen in 12 years a slave 20 chiwetel ejiofor at an event for 12. Steve mcqueens muchhyped slavery drama is a brutal, excoriating and vital companion to quentin tarantinos django. To hear some tell it, perhaps hyperbolically but with real conviction, 12 years a slave may be the definitive cinematic treatment of american slavery. Chiwetel ejiofor plays the lead in the true story of solomon.
The opening scenes of 12 years a slave, steve mcqueens searing adaptation of the truelife account of a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the precivil war south. Twelve years a slave the original book from which the 20 movie 12 years a slave is based illustrated. Itll win so that the academy can forgive itself for making no other good films about slavery for the last hundred years. I hope my film can play a part in drawing attention to this important book of courage. It stars chiwetel ejiofor, michael fassbender, benedict cumberbatch, paul giamatti, and brad pitt. Not only is 12 years a slave a heartwrenching, visceral display of depravity. A freeborn black man is abducted from new york and sold into slavery in this historical drama.
The only thing that lets this film down is the rather odd beginning and the at times lessthanclear dialogue. Solomon is tied up and left in the sun after fighting with tibeats but he can breath. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad. I couldnt believe that it was a true story and that i hadnt heard anything about it before. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery.
In 1841, northup, a free black man, was drugged and then sold into slavery. In 1841, african american solomon northup, a free man, is kidnapped and forced into slavery under the name platt for 12 years. Parents need to know that 12 years a slave is a harrowing, moving drama based on a book written in the 1850s by solomon northup recounting his experiences as a slave, and it can be difficult to watch. Oct 23, 20 12 years a slave isnt the story of an american tragedy. Solomon northup is a free black man living in upstate new york with his family in the 1840s. That is because america is guilty of a gross affront against humanity. In some ways, 12 years a slave plays like a horror movie. Steve mcqueen, the british video artist who made hunger and shame, spares his audience little. The plantation system evolved to become the reservation system for native americans. 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. There are scenes that show extreme brutality beatings, hangings and rough language the use of the n word, and extreme emotional cruelty.
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. Why 12 years a slave will win best picture at the oscars. The story of solomon northrup, a free black man kidnapped and forced into bondage in the 1840s, makes for a compelling drama in the movie 12 years a slave. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and endure those 12 years as a slave. It truly captured the helplessness and the cruelty of slavery. 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. The film is based on the memoir written by solomon northup, which reveals what happened after solomon played by chiwetel ejiofor a free black man living in new york in precivil war america was kidnapped and sold into slavery, before he was able to.
The most telling scene was one i had later heardsaw mentioned by the commentary on the disk. Jan 10, 2014 but if 12 years a slave is continuous with mcqueens previous work, it is also far superior to it. However, it fails to make a clearcut statement about the slavery issue or provide new insight on that dark chapter. 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. Despite the growing chatter of awards season predictions, one wonders if a movie as brutally realistic in its depiction of slavery as 12 years truly has a chance for oscar glory. However, it fails to make a clearcut statement about the slavery issue or provide new insight on that dark chapter in american history. The source is a rare firsthand account based on the bestselling 19thcentury memoir written by solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york who suddenly had his liberty torn away after being kidnapped and sold for slave labor in louisiana. He also publishes a movie blog that can be found at. Rent 12 years a slave 20 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. Differences between 12 years a slave book vs movie page 1.
Steve mcqueens film fudges several details of solomon northups autobiographyboth intentionally and notto more completely portray the. This powerful film based on a true story won three oscars. But a canadian abolitionist who plays a small but crucial role in northups story argues that slavery is contrary to gods law, since in gods eyes all men are of equal worth. I am thankful that i serve a god who is in the liberating business. Clearly, by exporting films like 12 years a slave, white people relish the opportunity to repeatedly tell the whole world how the u. The theme of religion in 12 years is appropriately mixed. I watched the movie called 12 years a slave written by himself, solomon northup and directed by steve mcqueen. First published in 1853 in the year after his release, twelve years a slave is the personal. I saw it and was later disappointed that it received token awards at the academy awards ceremony. Rarely, its true, have the cruelties of the antebellum south been so thoroughly catalogued.
The reason for that, i am sure, is that while already embarked on the project of making a movie. Theres no doubt that oscar nominations and possibly some wins lie ahead for director steven mcqueens acclaimed drama, 12 years a slave. The protagonist of schindlers list was a german with a conscience. Ford sells solomon to epps to protect him from tibeats.
His story became a banner of the abolitionist movement until it was overshadowed by harriet beecher stowes uncle toms cabin in the mid19th century. From the historical accuracy perspective, steven mcqueens 12 years a slave movie hews quite closely to solomons northups book on which the film is based. The movie 12 years a slave is a 21stcentury version of roots, this generations ancestry spectacle. Jan 11, 2014 12 years a slave is not an easy watch and nor should it be. In 12 years a slave 20, directed by steve mcqueen, the audience is provided with an understanding of characters, place and main characters experience through miseenscene and cinematography. In short, this movie made me thankful for the gospel. In retelling the harrowing true story of solomon northup. Jan 08, 2014 in short, this movie made me thankful for the gospel. This touching story documents the struggle of solomon northrups 12 years of being an enslaved african american despite being a free man.
The film 12 years a slave tells the reallife story of solomon northup. Jul 14, 2019 in the years before the civil war, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from upstate new york, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south. Aside from the captivating story and tremendous acting, the historical accuracy of slavery during this time is gut retching. 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 film follows the experience of solomon northup. Solomons only hope for escape lies with another carpenter, a man from canada who abhors the institution of slavery. One day, two men approach him and ask if he will accompany them and play his fiddle as they travel to washington dc to the circus they work for. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and. Thats because, ultimately, 12 years a slave isnt just a film about slavery, its a film about all of us, and how we as a society come to accept certain horrors as a part of life.
Analysis of the movie 12 years a slave 1429 words 6 pages. The scene ends with shots of solomon and the slaves doing manual labor while tibeats sings the song run nigger, run. Solomon is chopping trees for timber with other slaves. He faces the hardships of being a slave under the hands of a few different slave owners. What do african americans think of the film 12 years a slave. Starring chiwetel ejiofor, brad pitt, benedict cumberbatch, michael fassbender, sarah paulson, paul dano, paul giamatti, quvenzhane wallis, garret. The result is a compellingly real recreation of the worst of american history. The rest of the movie shows how epps, and his jealous wife, mistreated solomon and a female slave named patsey for the next 10 years. Dec 08, 2016 i saw it and was later disappointed that it received token awards at the academy awards ceremony. Apart from that, it is a very good film, but be prepared to be shocked by some of the violence. Twelve years a slave the original book from which the 20 movie.
Oct 25, 20 thats because, ultimately, 12 years a slave isnt just a film about slavery, its a film about all of us, and how we as a society come to accept certain horrors as a part of life. Four years later, however, the kansasnebraska act opened all new territories to slavery by asserting the rule of popular sovereignty over congressional edict, leading pro and antislavery forces. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12 years before being released. 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. Based on a true story, 12 years a slave depicts the journey of a free black man in the 1840s that is kidnapped and sold into southern slavery. Director steve mcqueens awardwinning film 12 years a slave 20 has been hailed as one of the greatest movies about slavery ever. Starring chiwetel ejiofor, brad pitt, benedict cumberbatch, michael fassbender, sarah paulson. Its the story of the american tragedy this countrys original sin. Best picture, adapted screenplay and supporting actress. However there are a number of scenes in the film which intentionally falsify details of solomon northups autobiography for the purpose of portraying the horrors of slavery in a. From acclaimed director steve mcqueen comes this deeply evocative and brilliantly acted film claudia puig, usa today based on the true.
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