Best picture Oscar contender 12 Years a Slave is based on the true life account of Solomon Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor), an African-American man born into freedom in Saratoga, N.Y. He was tricked and kidnapped in Washington, D.C., in 1841 and sold into slavery in Louisiana.
Screenwriter John Ridley adapted the screenplay from Northup’s best-selling memoir, which was published in 1853, eight years before the start of the Civil War. 12 Years a Slave was available in limited theaters on Oct. 18, 2013 and will be released nationwide on Nov. 1.
“I don’t want to survive, I want to live,” says Northup to another slave. 12 Years a Slave is a film not only about one man’s fight to stay alive, but to maintain his dignity.
This adaption of American slavery was unlike any other because, like Northup, most of the slaves depicted were born into freedom. The characters were educated, talented and skillful. They could read and write. Northup played the violin and was an engineer.
The filmmakers of 12 Years a Slave did not provide a sense of time throughout the film. It was very slow-paced and often seemed to drag on. This may have been intentionally done to accentuate the day-to-day struggles and long period of time that Northup had to endure in captivity. The only sense of time offered was Northup’s aging appearance.
The immense impact of American slavery has always been underrepresented in film and on television. Alex Haley’s Roots, the third most-watched miniseries of all time, has been the standard portrait of slavery in the U.S. on television or in film since it first aired in 1977, according to IMDb.
Unlike other recent films that have showcased the shameful legacy of slavery and other institutionalized injustice in America like Django Unchained, 12 Years a Slave did not sugarcoat the harsh and graphic material with overtly fictional humor. This film depicts the events of the time as they occurred.
Everyone, especially young adults should see this film. They can gain a greater appreciation and new perspective of their privileged lifestyles. 12 Year a Slave makes the common struggles of everyday life seem as if they are insignificant. It provides a glimpse of history that schoolbooks could not provide. The imagery and sound make it seem as if you are in the moment with the characters.
According to Susan Wloszczyna at rogerebert.com, “While Django Unchained and Lee Daniels’ The Butler were slaps in the face of inequality, this was a punch in the gut.”
The excellent acting, directing (done by Steve McQueen), cinematography and soundtrack (done by award-winning composer Hans Zimmer) help to create a more realistic effect of the lynchings, beatings and brutal attacks depicted in the film. The emotion in Chiwetel Ejiofor’s face and the pain in his voice perfectly portrayed an abducted slave being held against his will. This performance could land him his first Academy Award.
There was a very somber feeling in the theater at the conclusion of the film. The theater lights did not come up until almost all of the credits were finished. This gave the audience members an opportunity to sit and compose themselves. You could sense the sadness on patron’s faces. The sound of sniffling and people blowing their noses radiated throughout the theater. Reading reviews and watching trailers will not prepare you for the events that unfold on the screen. It will leave you with a feeling of empathy that you never knew you could experience. 12 Years a Slave is a must-see film.
Critic’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Amanne Cabbagestalk can be reached at amanne.cabbagestalk@spartans.ut.edu