12 Years a Slave is a must-see, but for reasons that entirely differ from those of your typical blockbuster hit.
The picture, directed by Steve McQueen and co-produced by Brad Pitt, recently won Best Film at the Baftas 2014, overriding competition from Gravity and American Hustle. And with good reason.
Set in the pre-Civil War US, 12 Years a Slave is based on the memoirs of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free and well-educated black man from New York who is brutally tricked, captured and sold into slavery.
Forced to endure the cruelty imposed on him by those he is sold to, Solomon fights hard to stay alive and maintain his dignity.
An inspiring cast makes this film what it is, with moving performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano and Brad Pitt.
Ejiofor’s subtle but harrowing expressions of wordless emotion evoke real compassion and he so brilliantly depicts the essence of suppressed rage, thereby mirroring the anger and shame that the film stirs up within the audience.
Fassbender sends shivers down the spine with his chilling portrayal of malevolent and ignorant slave owner Epps, whose cruelty and sadistic enjoyment of power leaves you breathless.
Cumberbatch’s portrayal of compassionate slave owner Ford is directly contrasted with the sickening nature of Epps, though we are forced to question what is worse: justifying slavery when one is aware of the slaves’ humanity, or when one’s ignorance is palpable.
Nyong’o’s performance as slave girl Patsey, Epp’s favourite target, leaves tears in your eyes as she perfectly portrays the character’s desperation, despair and fierce pride.
Just as significant is the role that music has to play in McQueen’s masterpiece. Solomon is a musician and there are numerous scenes where his talent with the fiddle is uncomfortably contrasted with the violence and denigration going on all around him.
Additionally, McQueen appeals to slave song to depict the despair that hung in the air of the Southern US plantations during that time.
Furthermore, the costumes, by Patricia Norris, do much to convey the misery, filth and lack of dignity that engulfed these people’s lives.
This extremely powerful film forces us to confront the notion of corruption and discrimination in economics, politics and history.
McQueen has used the story to educate the viewer with regard to a horror-filled world that, even today, is still very much a reality.
We are forced to acknowledge the harrowing nature of the scenes in front of us with recurring themes of distress, torture and physical abuse, many of which are stretched over an uncomfortably lengthy timeframe.
You will most likely have to avert your eyes more than once, an indication of the fact that McQueen’s work so successfully evokes feelings of disgust at the events of history.
12 Years a Slave is undoubtedly difficult to watch, but it is a story that everyone should see precisely because it does so much justice to the horrors that present a reality for so many people. This film will open your eyes.
Image courtesy of Fox Searchlight Productions via YouTube, with thanks.
