12 Years a Slave tells the real life story of Solomon Northup, played superbly by Chiwetel Ejiofor, and his fight for survival, dignity and ultimately his freedom in a pre-civil war United States. A free black man who is adducted in upstate New York and then sold into slavery. When the film starts we are introduced to Solomon as a devoted family man. A Father, a husband and a man of many talents including playing music. It is this gift of music that brings him to the attention of two men who enquire about hiring his services while his wife and children are out of town. Things go well at first but Solomon wakes up one morning, after having been plied with liquor the night before, in chains and his long dark journey begins.
The director of 12 Years a Slave, Steve McQueen, in what is only his third Hollywood film, has managed to deliver a raw and powerful film that at times is very hard to watch. The only other film that I can compare it to is Steven Spielberg’s “Schindlers List”. The subject matter for 12 Years is equally as powerful but has the added component of being graphic in what it shows you. There are three scenes that stand out in this regard. Scenes that I found myself wanting to look away from and wait until they were over. I forced myself to watch these images, not because I enjoyed them but I felt I had to. The first of these three takes place the morning after his abduction and it’s where Solomon is beaten, whilst manacled in chains, with a wooden paddle across his back. The camera is placed almost at ground zero the brutality of his is beating is forced directly at you. The second comes the repercussions of Solomon’s actions against a racist worker on a plantation in Louisiana. He has a noose placed around his neck and he is hung from a tree just high enough so that he can only just balance on his toes. This harrowing landscape is made all the more difficult due to his ground his feet can touch is nothing more than soft mud. Again the camera is used to pull the audience in and make you feel what’s being portrayed on the screen. To further the intensity of what you are obligated to observe there is no dialogue, no dramatic score just a single shot of Solomon struggling against the rope. The camera stays on this struggle against gravity longer than anyone will feel comfortable with and that may well be the point for doing so. The third and probably hardest of all to watch is towards the end of the film and comes in the form of Michael Fassbender’s sadistic Edwin Epps. Epps is the owner of a cotton plantation who uses the Bible and scripture as a way of justifying his merciless behaviour towards the slaves that he “owns”. One such slave, Patsy, played by Lupita Noyng’o seems to not only garner more attention from Epps but also has to suffer his all-consuming sexual brutality as well. This ultimately leads to Patsy’s destruction against the post. Being the coward that Epps is, he forces Solomon to start whipping her. Solomon has to reluctantly agree. Not only for his own safety but also for the safety and wellbeing of the other slaves. Solomon tries to inflict as little damage as he can but this only lasts temporarily as Epps takes over and begins to quench his blood lust. What follows is nothing short of harrowing and distressing. The viewer is given a front row seat to Epps violence, strength and ferocity. The screen bleeds red at times and the incisions the leather whip leave upon Patsy’s back leave a scar on the eyes.
Solomon’s salvation comes in the form of a chance meeting with Brad Pitts “Bass” who happens to be under the employ of Epps to help build a rotunda within the grounds of his plantation. Bass, a white man from Canada, believes that all men, regardless of race, creed or culture should be treated as equals. After some soul searching and the realisation that by doing so he could be endangering his own life Bass agrees to inform Solomon’s family in New York of his location so they may send papers down to free him. The film ends with a very emotional reunion with his with wife and children. His daughter, now married, presents with his first grandchild and he then starts the very long healing process towards leading a normal family life….
Along with the aforementioned Chitewel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Lupita Noyng’o, whom I suspect will all win Oscars the respective categories that their nominated in, this film also boasts other great actors, some of which aren’t afford much screen time but still leave thinking about their performance long after the film has finished. These include Paul Giamatti playing “Freeman”. An ironic name given that he’s responsible for the selling of slaves onto their respective new owners. Theres also Benedict Cumberbatch playing “Ford”. A plantation owner who actually shows Solomon great kindness at times, protecting him from a lynch mob and also rewarding him with a fiddle after Solomon helps increase working efficiency on Ford’s estate.
Everyone should make the time to watch 12 Years a Slave. Some of you won’t enjoy it and I suspect some of you may not make it through to the end. As I said earlier it is a hard watch at times but what it lacks in subtlety and visual shyness it makes up for as an ensemble piece of film making that is beautifully acted by its entire cast. Its cinematography is also one of 12 years stand out components. That coupled with powerful direction and a screenplay written by John Ridley that doesn’t pull any punches means 12 years will stay with you long after its credits roll and so it should.
Twitter Review:
12 Years a Slave is a hard film to watch but a necessary requirement. Thought provoking and graphic, chilling and bold. Must see.
#Oscars
Useful Links:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUQNjfhlREk
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