MYST Post #1: 12 Years a Slave

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi302032921/

I actually went to see this movie several weeks ago, but since I am the queen of procrastination, I have waited until just about the last minute possible to write this post. Admittedly, I was pretty reluctant to venture out to Elmhurst's York Theater for the 12:15 showing, mostly because it was a snowy day and having to endure a cold ten-second walk from the car to the theater is absolute torture in my mind, but I am unbelievably pleased that I did. 12 Years a Slave won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture-Drama, maintains a staggering 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, and has been described as the best film to be made about American slavery so far. With the movie now residing on my favorites list, I completely understand why. The cinematography (captured on film, not digitally) illustrating leading character Solomon Northup's (Chiwetel Ejiofor) heart-rending journey is aesthetically rich and portrays authentic beauty while being juxtaposed with its unflinching portrayal of gritty, nightmarish mental and physical abuse.

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup

Based on the 1853 autobiography of the same name, 12 Years a Slave follows Solomon Northup, a free black man from Saratoga, New York, as he is abducted and sold into slavery. Originally being asked to accompany a circus for a short time, due to his masterful violin playing, Solomon is drugged and put to market in the antebellum south, given a new name, Platt. He is first sold to comparatively benevolent plantation owner, William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch), but after inciting a conflict with a slave overseer, which puts Solomon's life in danger, Ford is forced to transfer him to the ownership of Mr. Epps (Michael Fassbender), a sadistic alcoholic who holds a disturbing obsession for his favorite slave, Patsey (Lupita Nyong'o). Unable to escape, Solomon can do nothing but bide his time and struggle to survive until he can find a way to return to his life and family.

(left to right) Epps, Patsey, and Solomon 

Director Steve McQueen had only ever worked on short films and two features, Hunger and Shame, before 12 Years a Slave and had utilized the talents of cinematographer Sean Bobbitt. The two teamed up again for this feature and brought with them their love of drawn out shots. The duo broke records with this technique in 2008 with a long shot of a discussion between an IRA hunger striker and a priest lasting 171/2 minutes of a twenty-three minute scene. In 12 Years a Slave, the camera simply doesn't look away, especially during the most horrendous scenes. One of the toughest scenes to watch is the near lynching of Solomon after his altercation with slimy overseer Tibeats (Paul Dano).

Overseer Tibeats

The audience gazes helplessly as Solomon dangles from the branch of a tree with his toes barely touching the ground; slipping would mean his death. The sequence goes on endlessly, with Solomon's strangled breaths continuing softly all the while. Ford's wife stares at him from her porch, blatantly ignoring his plight, while in the background, the other slaves continue to go about their duties, daring not to help or even spare a glance for fear of the same fate falling upon them. More intense discomfort is brought to the audience while watching the entirety of slave girl Patsey having her back flogged to shreds by Mr. Epps as Solomon looks on in horror.

12 Years a Slave also unsettles the audience with its many juxtapositions and its portrayals of human hypocrisy. Along with his use of lengthy shots, McQueen seems to enjoy carrying auditory aspects of the movie from one scene through to the next. For example, when Solomon first arrives at Ford's plantation with several other new slaves, Tibeats makes them clap a beat to his taunting rendition of the slave song "Run, N-gger, Run". And he just keeps singing and singing. The song is even played quietly in the background as Ford reads from the bible to the plantation residents, as an undercurrent which illustrates the continuous terror felt by slaves, even at times that are supposed to be peaceful. Speaking of Ford, he is one of the characters that I found quite fascinating.

First appearing at the slave auction where Solomon is being sold, Ford is made to embody Christian kindness in a place of despair. He states that he wishes to purchase a woman, Eliza, and after seeing her despair over being separated from her children, attempts to buy Eliza's daughter as well. His request is refused, and his efforts to reason with the auctioneer are disregarded, at which he is appalled. At this point I was distracted enough by his kind-heartedness that it took me a second to realize that Ford is a slave owner which means he is perpetuating the situation which the human beings being sold are trapped in. He appreciates Solomon's talents and tries to protect him when his life is endangered, but regards Solomon as an exceptional creature that is still beneath him and, ultimately, a business asset. When Ford must send Solomon to the plantation of the cruel Mr. Epps, who Ford owes money, he gives up the responsibility of preserving Solomon's safety so as to settle his debts, showing how carelessly Ford is able to handle human life.

This movie, in my opinion, definitely ranks above other movies about slavery that I've seen. In Quentin Tarantino's snarky, sometimes silly Django Unchained, the audience experiences comic-book-like heroes, jovial racists, and humorously inept extremists who resemble the KKK and complain about not being able to see out of the bags over their heads. It doesn't present historical truth as much as 12 Years a Slave manages to. 12 Years a Slave is a difficult movie to watch for many adults, so younger kids and teens probably shouldn't be recommended to do so. It's rated R for a reason, after all, and does contain some nudity as well as a rape scene. My own sister said that she was so unsettled by the movie that she wouldn't be watching it again soon, but I certainly will when the next opportunity arises.

I give this film 4/4 stars.




Gianna Spiega
Feb. 17, 2014