Epic journey into the reasoning of humanity

Rating: 8/10 (24 November 2015)

12 years a slave is a very powerful and moving epic story. It's obviously a stain on the collective history of humankind that such barbaric slavery as depicted in this movie was allowed to be carried out. I could feel shame just watching it. What this movie does is really highlights the stupidity and futility of such slavery. The people captured and forced to be slaves are naturally exasperated, hopeless and diminished. They rightfully cannot understand such inexplicable cruelty. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o give stellar performances as they confront the horror and depravity of slavery. The land owners who control the slaves are depicted as bullies, but we also see their human side. Their blinded, twisted take on gospel scriptures that enables them to manipulate their own minds and feelings. Their false sense of entitlement spurred by financial motivation. And for me the most important part of their depiction - their equal confusion to deal with the effects of such brutal slavery. Paul Dano's short but impressive depiction of the blind anger created by fear. Paul Giamatti's educated man turning a blind eye. Benedict Cumberbatch's blushing exploitation. This movie enables us to study those who took part in the enslaving of others. Why did they? How could they? And we see from religion to blind rage how some were able to suppress any feelings that this was a great wrong they were committing. None more so than Michael Fassbender who for me stole the show with his depiction. It should have been Chiwetel Ejiofor but Fassbender was so honest in his portrayal. So blinded, desperate and flawed. So confused in his feelings. He held absolutely nothing back and in doing so created an unforgettable movie character. The scene that captured this most for me was at night with his lantern confronting Solomon. He was utterly manic. We're not impressed by his character. We are disgusted. But Fassbenders portrayal of this character is so impressive that it helps us to see the human behind this monster. Which helps to remind us that it was humans that did this. Whatever their reasoning and thought processes - human beings committed such atrocities. And for me this is a very sobering thought.