12 Years a Slave [MA]

In 1841 Solomon Northup, a New York state-born free Negro, was kidnapped during a fiddling gig in Washington D.C. and sold into slavery: shipped to the south to be purchased for the purpose of labour in the cotton fields and around the immense estates of the wealthy. Separated from his wife and children and subjected to brutal treatment, abuse, murder attempts, and the nightmarish witnessing of abuse of his own kind, Solomon’s only hope of survival is to keep his head down, say as little as possible, and wait until an opportunity to regain his freedom presents itself. 

Directed by Steve McQueen and based on the events recounted in Solomon Northup’s memoir, 12 Years a Slave is a remarkable story and an empowering piece of cinema boasting stunning performances, a well-written script, and a captivating historical feel achieved though its costumes, dialogue, and events. It’s been awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Dramatic Motion Picture and has received 9 Academy Award nominations including all the big ones: Best Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. But be warned, this is not a film that you go to see lightly. It is bleak, it is violent, it is unjust, and you really have to want to see it. Its power and shock appeal comes not only from the fact that it’s based on a true story, but through long, lingering camera shots, slow-moving bouts of wordy dialogue, and a harsh soundtrack. There is no room for comedy and the only smiling one will indulge is right at the very end amidst floods of tears. 

In 1841 Solomon Northup, a New York state-born free Negro, was kidnapped during a fiddling gig in Washington D.C. and sold into slavery: shipped to the south to be purchased for the purpose of labour in the cotton fields and around the immense estates of the wealthy. Separated from his wife and children and subjected to brutal treatment, abuse, murder attempts, and the nightmarish witnessing of abuse of his own kind, Solomon’s only hope of survival is to keep his head down, say as little as possible, and wait until an opportunity to regain his freedom presents itself. 

It’s all well and good to talk about clever camera angles and what they do for a picture, but this is the first film (that I’ve seen) that plays with camera technique very simply and still manages to achieve a stark reflection of the bleakness of the story and the protagonist’s feelings. The scenes in this movie are quite long and when they’re not filled with lengthy dialogue, they are filled with long, lingering, shots of seemingly nothing of importance. Amidst opening scenes introducing new stages of the story, there are long extreme close-ups of caterpillars on cotton, or long shots of the master’s estate and though these shots may not signify anything in terms of plot development, what they are doing is creating a feeling of time lagging, hope dwindling: they are acquainting the audience with Solomon’s own inner feelings so when we watch them we feel frustration, anticipation, and that feeling that time has stopped in its tracks. It’s often said that simplicity is key and McQueen’s employment of these long, lingering shots are testament to that. 

Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup and by everything sacred to everyone, he delivers a stunning performance. The frustration, the anticipation, the struggle, everything he is feeling inside manages to radiate out of the screen and implant itself into the audience. You dare not blink when Chiwetel is on the screen! I don’t think that I can actually put into printed words how remarkable his performance was so I would encourage people who’s interest I’ve piqued to go and watch the film. That’s all I can do. 

Starring Dwight Henry, Chris Chalk, Taran Killam, Scoot McNairy, Tony Bentley, Adepero Oduye, Tom Proctor, Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Michael Fassbender, Sarah Paulson, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Dylan, Alfre Woodard, and Brad Pitt, 12 Years a Slave is a stunning historical drama filled with violence, abuse, determination, patience, drama, and hope. I say again, it’s not a film to be engaged in lightly, but despite its bleakness it is a remarkable film.