Soloman Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) with the evil Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) Photo: Canburak
By Fraser Wright
IT’S BEEN a long time since a film has been as deeply moving and upsetting as 12 years a slave. The movie is not enjoyable in the slightest due its brutality and distressing images but is a must see nonetheless.
Director Steve Mcqueen brilliantly portrays the story of Soloman Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) – a wealthy and well thought of ‘freeman’ from New York, who plays the violin and has a beautiful wife with two kids. In a tragic betrayal and twist of events, Solomon finds himself as in chains and plunged into the gruesome world of slavery.
The film focusses on Solomon’s journey as a slave, displaying his encounters with brutal plantation owners, including the evil and inhuman Edwin Epps, played incredibly by Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds, Prometheus, X-men). One of the main highlights of the movie has to be the performance by Oscar nominee for supporting actress, Lupita Nyong’o.
She plays the vulnerable slave Patsey who Epps becomes infatuated with – raping and abusing her regularly- driving her to suicide. Nyong’os display of fear and despair is admirable and deserving of the Oscar.
The film is a roller coaster of emotions, as we become both angry and incensed with Soloman’s plight, but at the same time commend his spirit and defiance. When Soloman arrives at one of the plantation, another slave says to him: “if you wanna survive, do as little as possible, unless you wanna be a dead nigger” to which he replies “I don’t wana survive, I wanna live”. It’s one of many great lines in the film which refer to acts of rebellion against the oppression of slaves in America.
Stars such as Benedict Cumberbatch also star. Photo: Canburak
The casting is impeccable with Ejiofor, Nyong’o and Fassbender all giving the performance of their careers. Even the smaller characters such as Ford are played perfectly by Benedict Cumberbatch. Brad Pitt, who helped produce the film, also stars as a field worker and is one of the few characters willing to help Soloman.
Ejiofor’s performance as Soloman is sure to run Leonardo Di Caprio (The Wolf of Wall Street) at the Oscars in 2 months’ time but he was not always sure about taking on the role in the first place. Ejiofor told the BBC that he needed “a moment to work out” whether to accept or decline the offer.
“When I read the script, I thought it was an extraordinary story but I did feel the weight and the responsibility of it,” he said. “I didn’t want to be the guy that messed it up.”
“I hadn’t seen a story from inside the slave experience as a film and I’d been accustomed to the fact I’d probably never see it,” Ejiofor added.
“So to be handed that kind of opportunity and the responsibility of telling (Northup’s) story – I just questioned myself and was stuck for a moment with the questions of whether I could do that.”
Brad Pitt not only starred but also helped direct the film. Photo: evsmitty
Although critically acclaimed and showered in award nominations, 12 years a slave is not without controversy. Some critics have argued that the film does not properly highlight the fight against slavery that was shown by so many during the struggle. There has also been claims that the film is actually detrimental to the image of white people, most are made out to be horrible scum in the movie. The taboo subject of Slavery is one which is avoided by so many, but is now open to discussion once again.
Director Steve McQueen criticized Hollywood for the absence of movies addressing slavery when there are “hundreds and hundreds of films about the second world war and Holocaust”.
Speaking to Sky News McQueen said: “Slavery lasted 400 years and there are less than 20 (films). We have to redress that balance and look at that time in history.”
The film has many central themes including fear, redemption, evil and pity. It is not unreasonable to call this film as a modern masterpiece and certainly lives up to the hype. 12 years a slave is skilfully scripted, delightfully shot and intensely moving. Some people may be appalled at the violence but that is general point of the movie- to highlight the atrocity that is the slave trade. The best ever slave film, including Django, and one of the most important films of the 21st century.
IMDB Rating = 8.5
Rotten Tomatos = 93%
Opening Weekend: $923,715 (USA) (18 October 2013)
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