The movie, 12 Years a Slave fits into the league of the ’90s film Amistad, which is one of many films about slavery in America.
In 12 Years a Slave, the brutal abuse and the conditions slaves were subjected to are explored.
Director Steve McQueen is an extremely good storyteller but the Oscar hype about the movie is a little too much.
After watching the movie it becomes apparent that the only real hype about the film is that an African American director is being honoured at the film industry’s biggest night.
The movie is by no means unique: it does not appear to be any different to other slavery films produced before its time; it simply details one more story of slavery. Maybe Quentin Tarantino’s radical take on slavery in Django Unchained is what overshadows the traditional, simple and deep emotional drama that comes with 12 Years a Slave.
McQueen’s movie chronicles the real-life story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was thrown into slavery for 12 years of his life in the 1800s; during which time he encounters a number of challenges. It is a film about Northup’s struggle, his drive to survive and to get back to his family, maintaining hope and lessons in trusting others. McQueen skilfully narrates the story of the other characters in the movie through the eyes of Northup. The supporting actors and actresses in the movie carry the sadness and deep emotion of the movie with conviction from start to finish.
Some critics may argue that sometimes the best way to tell a story is to tell it as it is; and if that is the case, then this movie achieves that objective.
