A Classic Film

Rating: 10/10 (2 March 2014)

"12 Years A Slave",is a true story based on a book written by Solomon Northup a "free negro" born in New York State in the early 1800's. The director of this film, Steve McQueen" is also black. Perhaps one day there will no need to distinguish him professionally based on his race but I think it's necessary this time. If only we could look upon art for its own sake, not by the race of the person who wrote or directed it, but this time I believe it's necessary. Like only Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor, could have written "Night", only Steve McQueen could have directed this film. This film strips away anything that is cosmetic and shows, I believe, slavery as it really was, through constant brutality, you strip away anyone of their high-held beliefs in justice, and most importantly of all of our individual sense of right and wrong.
I think this film is a masterpiece, based on what I believe is true art: a true representation of the both the brutality and the humanity of us all. I watched this film with my husband, who is African American, he watched it in stoic silence. I was in tears. The profound difference with my reaction compared to his was so layered. His reaction is one coming from a deep well of oppression, going back to over 300 years. Passed on from generation to generation. My husband is a profoundly compassionate man, it was based on my urgings that he saw this film. Now I'm not sure so sure I should have subjected him to it. But perhaps his stoicism is something I, as a white person, will never understand. Some of the scenes were so difficult to watch, (oh, yeah? Difficult to watch? Trying living through them in real life) How desensitized these children were made to be. The scene in which Solomon was forced to whip "Patsy" a fellow slave was almost unbearable to watch. But perhaps what was worse was the scene in which Solomon, having a promise of freedom, is forced to leave Patsy behind on the plantation. I wonder what I would have done under similar circumstances, what I would have endured rather than being forced to betray a loved one. Big questions. And I guess we all hold the answers in our individual hearts