Of course, every movie about slavery is based on true events to some degree, but the protagonist of 12 years a slave, solomon northup, really was a free black man who was kidnapped from new york and sold into slavery in the south, where he spent 12 years. With 12 years a slave putting solomon northups story in the spotlight, katie calautti attempts to discover the fate of patseyand learns just how. Oct, 20 the latest entry in this unlikely genre is 12 years a slave, the director steve mcqueens adaptation of solomon northups 1853 memoir. Reflections on 12 years a slave by lawrence ware two years ago i sat in an almost empty auditorium waiting for 12 years a slave to begin. Northup was not the only free black person in antebellum america to suffer such misfortune. And that is what animates mcqueens 12 years a slave based on the true story. Steve mcqueen, usauk an ultraearly release of 2014 in the uk january 10th to be precise, steve mcqueens third film 12 years a slave has endured, in my memory, as the most moving cinema experience of the year.
Nov 10, 20 however, the occasional hostility to 12 years a slave also derives from an enduring sense that the bleak history of racial slavery is the exclusive property of african americans. The movie 12 years a slave, directed by steve mcqueen, depicts a free black man, solomon northup, from new york who was drugged and. The story is a true one about a free slave, solomon northup, who lived with his. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave the. The movie 12 years a slave is an accurate account of what it was like to be a slave or a free african american in the 1800 s. Festivalgoers tend to gab easily about their likes or dislikes as they walk out of a film, but. Art reflections music reflections music playlists photograph reflections. I saw it with a couple of fellow novices, one a dominican like myself, and the other a. I have been struck by the recurrence, in the discourse surrounding 12 years a slave, of. View homework help 12 years a slave reflection from history apush at brooklyn technical high school. The movie, 12 years a slave, focuses in one the time in history when blacks were looked at as a less being then human. Sep 01, 2014 12 years a slave is a movie worth watching. It led me to deep reflections about legalized slavery and all that it portended for our african brothers and sisters who were captured and carried across the ocean to america in that era when the law made it possible for them to become the property of any white person who had the wherewithal to purchase them. Narrative of solomon northup, which inspired the movie.
This movie was very detailed in what it was like to be an african american slave in the south showing the brutality and violence they suffered at the hands of the white man. Jan 07, 2014 12 years a slave is a biographical film about a free african american solomon northup who was abducted and enslaved. By getting it wrong steve mcqueens film fudges several details of solomon northups autobiographyboth intentionally and notto more completely. Nelson mandelas biopics timing notwithstanding, 12 years a slave is an important film that should be viewed by as many people as. Oct 17, 20 steve mcqueens devastating new movie, 12 years a slave, begins with the words based on a true story and ends with a description of what happened to solomon northup and his assailants. The recent movie 12 years a slave directed by steve mcqueen and written by john ridley is, for me, an incredible story of redemption and insight. The film is an adaptation of the 1853 autobiography of solomon northup 12 years a slave. Reflections on 12 years a slave charlesohalloranboyd. We believe every one of us deserves equal access to factbased news and analysis. Oct 18, 20 12 years a slave isnt the first movie about slavery in the united states but it may be the one that finally makes it impossible for american cinema to continue to sell the ugly lies. In 1841, african american solomon northup, a free man, is kidnapped and forced into slavery under the name platt for 12 years. Analysis of the movie 12 years a slave by steve mcqueen bartleby.
The 2014 film 12 years a slave follows the life of one solomon northup, a free black man residing in saratoga, new york in the years preceding the civil war. May 10, 2015 being considered as an authentic reflection and verifiable experiences of the contemporary slave system and the treatment of slave one of the primary missions of the genre slave narrative the movie twelve years a slave adapted from the solomon northups slave narratives of the same name has even been highly appreciated in. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and endure those 12 years as a slave. Two reflections on 12 years a slave by dr tessa roynon, research fellow in english.
Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, a blisteringly powerful drama. Every miserable fate in the movie contributed to the whole reflection of dehumanized treatment that slaves had to face. In toni morrisons wellknown novel about slavery, beloved 1987, the female protagonist sethe is distinctive as the one who never looked. The latest entry in this unlikely genre is 12 years a slave, the director steve mcqueens adaptation of solomon northups 1853 memoir. I greet the new dawn today with a heavy heart, an overwhelming sadness and intense anger.
The only thing that lets this film down is the rather odd beginning and the at times lessthanclear dialogue. Jul 19, 20 12 years a slave is based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. Finding the real patsey of 12 years a slave vanity fair. The reception of 12 years a slave 18 feb i meant to write this blog post several months ago when i saw the movie 12 years a slave, but my trip to ethiopia in december and the stress of the new semester in january kept me so occupied that i never got around to it. You wont leave the theater saying, oh my god, i loved that movie. Northup is played by amazingly by chiwetel ejiofor.
It is recognized that an apology from the house representatives for long period of brutal injustices cannot heal the past. Reaction paper 12 years a slave example for students 521. Sep 07, 20 12 years a slave is the movie that left a whole theater speechless. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, a blisteringly powerful drama that illuminates like no other film before it the sheer horror of slavery, opens here at watershed on fri 10 jan. Its not a beautiful movie about the great south with lavish costumes, grand balls, and white war heroes. A sobering drama about racism and slavery that will sear your soul and set you. The uniqueness of northups book lies in the fact that unlike other slave narrated books. I watched the movie called 12 years a slave written by himself, solomon northup and directed by steve mcqueen. However in all three we know of his father, a man named mintus, who was originally enslaved to the northup family. His abduction as a free man, his resulting transformation into a slave and his detainment as a slave irreversibly altered the course of his life. Face its truth, which is that the building of america included a terrible system that has wounded us all. The film is an adaptation of the 1853 autobiography of solomon northup. Dec 20, 20 12 years a slave is not disneyfied or glossed over.
Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, anchored by brilliant chiwetel ejiofor, is a slavery movie for the ages. Apart from that, it is a very good film, but be prepared to be shocked by some of the violence. He faces the hardships of being a slave under the hands of a few different slave owners. In that light, 12 years a slave isnt simply a masterpiece, its a milestone. Although i am not a stranger to the knowledge of how horrific and brutal the institution of slavery is, and knew that it would be tough to watch this movie, i still was not quite prepared for. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and. This journeys power is a cumulative effort, the final sum of which cant be entirely anticipated until it arrives. It is about a man named solomon northup who was kidnapped into slavery in washington, d. In the past, movies like amistad, the help, and mississippi burning have told black stories by focusing on white characters. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad pitt, it is pitched pretty near perfectly in terms of sheer narrative craftsmanship.
Last night i watched the riveting movie 12 years a slave and living in a polite english town i wasnt surprised to see some people leaving the cinema halfway through the movie because of the viciousness and violence that was on display. Reaction paper 12 years a slave example for students. In the movie the main character is a african american male whose name is. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave is generating buzz, but does it examine american slavery as well as solomon northups original memoir. Fox searchlight released its new film, 12 years a slave, last friday night in theaters across america.
In toni morrisons wellknown novel about slavery, beloved 1987, the female protagonist sethe is distinctive as the one who never looked away from the acts of violence she routinely encountered. Jan 11, 2014 12 years a slave is not an easy watch and nor should it be. Oct 17, 20 12 years a slave, is a harrowing, unforgettable drama that doesnt look away from the reality of slavery. What do you judge to be northups dominant purpose in retelling the narrative of his years as a slave as shown in the movie adaptation of his book twelve. I was one of the few privileged to watch an advanced screening in london in december followed by a question and answer session with chiwetel ejiofor the lead actor and. However, the occasional hostility to 12 years a slave also derives from an enduring sense that the bleak history of racial slavery is the exclusive property of african americans. The story is a true one about a free slave, solomon northup, who lived with his wife and two children in saratoga springs, ny in 1841. Mar 02, 2014 with 12 years a slave putting solomon northups story in the spotlight, katie calautti attempts to discover the fate of patseyand learns just how impossible it can be to find one woman when. Steve mcqueens devastating new movie, 12 years a slave, begins with the words based on a true story and ends with a description of what happened to solomon northup and his assailants. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad pitt, it is pitched pretty near perfectly in terms.
The plot of the book twelve years a slave is the reflection of the authors own life experience. Both men are black, and the movie theyve made radically shifts the. Nov 22, 20 12 years a slave shows us that one can make a compelling film about race without marginalizing black characters and making a white persons moral outrage the driving force behind the narrative conflict. I saw the movie 12 years a slave last night and the images will not let leave me and let me rest. The recent movie 12 years a slave directed by steve mcqueen and written by john ridley is, for me, an incredible story of redemption and. Will americans allow this sobering movie to speak to their hearts and help us. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave. In the movie, the book, and his life, little is known about his mother, because they never gave her name. Its just one mans story, but it makes you imagine how horrible life had to have been for millions. Response to 12 years a slave essay 41 words 5 pages. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad. It led me to deep reflections about legalized slavery and all that it portended for our african brothers and sisters who were captured and carried across the ocean to america in that era when the law made it possible for them to become the property of any white person who had the wherewithal. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from.
This, at last, really is history written with lightning. The storyline itself, and the fact that it is based upon a true story, is troubling, if. Essay 12 years a slave grade 96% ccj4934sya4930 studocu. Interest in solomon northups onceobscure book is now intense. The movie twelve years a slave was based on the slave narrative written by solomon northup. This is an important story, told with passion, conviction and grace. But still i couldnt help but be a bit annoyed by these. His abduction as a free man, his resulting transformation into a slave and his detainment as. For me 12 years a slave was a very powerful movie which brought me to tears and thoughts. The storyline itself, and the fact that it is based upon a true story, is troubling, if not heartbreaking.