Not for the faint hearted but watching should be compulsory

Rating: 10/10 (5 February 2014)

5 February 2014 Film of Choice at The Plaza Tonight - 12 Years a Slave. Based on the true story of Solomon Northup, this powerful and disturbing film is a sharp lesson in how awful man can be to fellow man. Solomon is a free black man from New York who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. He encounters dreadful cruelty and yet stumbles across a little kindness. Superbly shot, this film drags you into the pure desperation felt by the slaves at the utter hopelessness of their situation. It is a film that will remove you far from your comfort zone, and given the subject, so it should, as it drags you into the epic battle to stay alive and to face every single day knowing how awful it will be, and not knowing if you ever see the sunrise of the next day. Solomon is played by Chitwetel Ejiofor with a compassion that is mesmerising, and his cruel owner Michael Fassbender attacks his role with such passion that I could feel the hatred oozing from his pores. An unexpected role for Brad Pitt which suited him well and gave an insight into just how well he can act when the role truly suits him. I would be very surprised if this film doesn't win something at the Oscars even with it's disturbing theme, no matter how uncomfortable these stories are, they are stories that need to be told.