Michael Fassbender and Chiwetel Ejiofor After making only two feature films (both critically acclaimed, 'Hunger' (2008) and 'Shame' (2011), British film director Steve McQueen on his third outing has delivered both an astonishing and an outstanding piece of work which has been heralded by some as the greatest movie ever made to deal with the reality of slavery in America. '12 Years As A Slave' is based on a book written by Soloman Northup in 1853, in which he recounts the shocking true life events which befall him in 1841. As a free Negro in New York, with a wife and two children, Northup was a trained musician with a certain standing in the community. He travelled to Washington to play the fiddle for a circus and while there was kidnapped and transported to Lousiana as a slave. At every point of Soloman conveying to his oppressors that he was not a slave, but in fact a free man, he was met with such brutal and ferocious violence that soon he realised in order to survive his ordeal, he must accept his situation. Indeed, Soloman's position was so dire that he learned to keep his ability to read and write a secret from the slave owners, as this information would be enough to have him killed.
McQueen has approached the subject matter with a pure honesty, unflinching at every turn, the savage and inhuman behaviour inflicted from one race to another, shown as it would have been at the time, as normal and matter of fact, making the film all the more shocking to watch. He has surrounded himself with an outstanding cast headed by Chitweter Ejiofor as Northup and Michael Fassbender as sadisitic slaveowner Edwin Epps. Both actors rose to the challenge of bringing these characters to life with a realism that was heart wrenching. Ejiofor brought a dignity to Soloman who refused to give up even when it looked as though death would be the only escape from the wretched existence he and the other slaves had to endure. Several stand out moments for me were close ups of the Ejiofor's face, with no dialogue, his thoughts and emotions being played through his eyes. Equally Fassbender (who starred in McQueen's two previous movies) played Epps with skill, bringing to the fore the complexities of a man who believed and treated his slaves as inhuman, just mere property, yet obviously having strong emotional feelings for a slave girl, Patsey (newcomer Lupita Nyong'o delivering a simply stunning debut performance), much to the displeasure and jealousy of his white wife (Sarah Paulson). Yet, this cruel man is so torn with his feelings that we also witness him both rape and whip the girl to near death. The scenes of sheer brutality and violence are unending throughtout '12 Years As A Slave', and at times are unbearably hard to watch without wanting to cry out for it to stop, however I believe it is an essential part of the story telling and needs to be seen as a reminder of the injustices inflicted on a people.
McQueen has approached the subject matter with a pure honesty, unflinching at every turn, the savage and inhuman behaviour inflicted from one race to another, shown as it would have been at the time, as normal and matter of fact, making the film all the more shocking to watch. He has surrounded himself with an outstanding cast headed by Chitweter Ejiofor as Northup and Michael Fassbender as sadisitic slaveowner Edwin Epps. Both actors rose to the challenge of bringing these characters to life with a realism that was heart wrenching. Ejiofor brought a dignity to Soloman who refused to give up even when it looked as though death would be the only escape from the wretched existence he and the other slaves had to endure. Several stand out moments for me were close ups of the Ejiofor's face, with no dialogue, his thoughts and emotions being played through his eyes. Equally Fassbender (who starred in McQueen's two previous movies) played Epps with skill, bringing to the fore the complexities of a man who believed and treated his slaves as inhuman, just mere property, yet obviously having strong emotional feelings for a slave girl, Patsey (newcomer Lupita Nyong'o delivering a simply stunning debut performance), much to the displeasure and jealousy of his white wife (Sarah Paulson). Yet, this cruel man is so torn with his feelings that we also witness him both rape and whip the girl to near death. The scenes of sheer brutality and violence are unending throughtout '12 Years As A Slave', and at times are unbearably hard to watch without wanting to cry out for it to stop, however I believe it is an essential part of the story telling and needs to be seen as a reminder of the injustices inflicted on a people.
Lupita Nyong'o The exquisite script delivered by John Ridley, stood out for me in the skillful way it managed to beautifully capture the mood and the language of this period piece with a truth that stays with you long after viewing the film. The fact that Soloman Northup's experience as a slave highlighted what was done to an entire group of people rightly shines a light on the most shameful period in America's history. The set design brought home the realities of the times, showing in equal measure the splendor of the surroundings inhabited by the slave owners as opposed to the abject squalor subjected to their servants. Though '12 Years A Slave' is a tough watch, it does offer a glimpse of things to come. Not everyone was happy with the situation of slavery, as displayed by a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt), who looks kindly upon Northup's predicament. Overall Mr McQueen has produced a heavyweight film of importance, a story which needs to be told and seen by everybody as ultimately this is a very human story.
Here is a 7 minute '12 Years As A Slave' featurette (with director Steve McQueen and cast):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVPt9tsFxbY
'12 Years As A Slave' Press Conference at the Toronto International Film Festival (with Steve McQueen and cast):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbHVhXlbYWA
Here is a 7 minute '12 Years As A Slave' featurette (with director Steve McQueen and cast):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVPt9tsFxbY
'12 Years As A Slave' Press Conference at the Toronto International Film Festival (with Steve McQueen and cast):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbHVhXlbYWA
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