12 Years A Slave

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2016)

12 Years A Slave follows the documented experiences of Solomon Northup, a free African- American who is wrongfully kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. The film is based off of Northup's autobiography published in 1853.
The film begins with Northup (portrayed by Ejiofor) living in Saratoga, New York with his family. After being offered a job by two men for his talents with the violin, he travels to Washington, D.C. with the pair. Shortly after arriving, he is drugged and taken to a slave pen. He finds that he is being referred to as an escaped slave from Georgia named Platt. When Northup exclaims that he is indeed a free man, he is beaten and told to never say such words again.
Throughout his twelve years, Northup is bound to two plantations. His first being owned by William Ford (Cumberbatch) who purchases him alongside a woman named Eliza (Oduye). She is separated from her children and is consumed by her misery. She has a significant exchange with Northup. When he tells her to quiet her weeping, she questions if he is going to assume the role of Platt from then on to which he replies, "I survive! I will not fall into despair! I will offer my talents to Master Ford! I will keep myself hardy until freedom is opportune!" This is a perfect example of his perseverance which is a common theme throughout the film.
After a confrontation with Tibeats (Dano), Northup is sold to the plantation of Edwin Epps (Fassbender). Unlike Ford, Epps is a sadistic man who enjoys the pain of his slaves. He is the only plantation owner who would agree to take in Northup. Life on Epps' plantation differs greatly from that on Ford's. Here he forms a bond with a slave named Patsey (Nyong'o). She is recognized for her ability to pick significant amounts of cotton in one sitting. Mistress Epps (Paulson) takes a disliking to her out of jealousy from the attention her husband gives the young slave.
Here Northup continues to work until his opportunity for freedom arrives. After he is leased to another plantation due to cotton worm, he meets Judge Turner (Batt). Later on, he receives money for using his experience with the fiddle to play for the neighbor of the Judge's wedding anniversary. With the money, he employs a former overseer to deliver a letter for him. This being an effort to reach his friends in New York to free him. However, he is betrayed and sold out to Epps. Northup avoids the wrath of the brutal slave owner by lying.
The opportunity for freedom rises again in the form of a gazebo. Northup is ordered to work on one with that of Samuel Bass (Pitt), a white man from Canada. Bass diverges from Epps' ideals. He does not understand how one could treat their slaves how he does. In a way, he opposes slavery all together. This mindset alone earns the trust of Northup. He asks the man to deliver his letter to which although he is worried by the risk involved, accepts the request.
Some time after this exchange, the sheriff arrives at the plantation. When Northup answers questions regarding his identity correctly, he is taken by the sheriff and returned to his family in the North. There, he is met by his now grown children, wife, and one grandchild. The movie closes with the family embracing each other for the first time in twelve years.
The film itself presents a significant principle; that each generation must not forget the events of those preceding theirs. There is much to learn from those who lived before you. One must know the past so that the rotten parts of it cannot be repeated. We, as a civilization, learn with growth. This message is delivered with aged offensive language, scenes of horrific practices, and ideals of those who believed in such customs. Captivating scenes of nature greatly juxtapose what occurs around it. Moments that deeply disturb the viewer are implemented as a teaching tool. The film displays gruesome conventions of the past to present the viewer with one idea; this must not be repeated. Inferiority among the races does not exist; we are all equal.