Genre:
Drama, Biography, History
Distributor:
eOne UK
Rating: 15
BD/DVD Release Date:
12th May 2014 (UK)
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.78:1
Running Time:
134 minutes
Director:
Steve McQueen
Cast:
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, Benedict Cumberbatch
Buy: 12 Years a Slave [DVD]
or [Blu-ray] 
12 Years A Slave is the true tale of Solomon Northup (Ejiofor), a free man tricked away from his home and sold into slavery in Louisiana in the 1840s.
Solomon, or Platt as his new slave name is to be, begins his 12 years of brutality, dehumanisation, abuse and hatred. Benedict Cumberbatch’s preacher, who initially buys him, is the closest he gets to kindness from the world he now inhabits. Using his skills as a musician and an engineer. But that too soon ends and he is plunged back into a world of violence and degradation.
McQueen came under fire for the level of violence depicted in the movie. A scene where Solomon is hung by his neck from a tree, his toes just touching the muddy ground beneath as other slaves go on about their tasks for the entire day. The scene goes on for a long time, an uncomfortably long time. But that’s how it should be.
Ejiofor’s performance is outstanding though Solomon is so stoic there’s little chance for Ejiofor to really get his teeth into some of the grandstanding dialogue you would expect in a role like this. Regardless, his performance is more than worthy of the awards and nominations he received last year. The true strength of 12 Years A Slave lies in the performances of the supporting cast. Michael Fassbender as the sadistic, gospel-quoting slave master Edward Epps and his favourite slave Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o) are both superb. Fassbender has never been afraid to take chances with roles and he has never been more physically or spiritually ugly as here – his character bringing to mind Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List
Director Steve McQueen is no stranger to an uncomfortable subject matter. Earlier works Hunger and Shame are evidence of that. 12 Years A Slave is his most psychologically difficult watch to date, forcing us to look away from the horror – made raw by the knowledge that we are watching true events.
For those expecting a great struggle with adversity followed by a satisfying resolution and triumphing of social justice, you will be disappointed. There are few moments of grace and kindness to be found here to sooth any remaining guilt. Instead we get one of those rare things in filmmaking, a man’s story….told as it happened. A truly great film.
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