Slavery....the greatest blot on humanity

Rating: 9/10 (16 January 2014)

The greatest blot on humanity ever imposed by humans was and will remain slavery. It is the lowest form of how one human can exploit another. Then it does not matter if it is sex slavery or slavery to pick cotton. 12 years a slave reminds us what some of the previous generations of humans had to go through just to survive.
Based on 18th century America, it is the true account of a free black man and how he is tricked and sold into slavery, separated from his family for a period of 12 years and how he survives those gruesome times. Faced with different experiences of kindness from one slave owner to absolute inhuman brutality from another, the protagonist manages to hold his ground facing adverse conditions. Some of the scenes portrayed in the movie are so gruesome and inhuman, you want to turn your face away from the screen. The act of considering another human as an animal just because he/she is of a different skin color comes as normal as sunshine on a summer morning to the white antagonists.
Acting is one of the strong points here. One of the few movies, where each and every actor plays his/her part almost brilliantly. The protagonist black man played by Chiewetel Ejiofor is a revelation. Surely, the front-runner for this years Oscar Awards for best actor. Michael Fassbender as the cruel slave owner disgusts you so much, you want to kill that bastard. The passion for cruelty which he portrays is awe-inducing. The simultaneous innocence and weakness portrayed by Lupita Nyong'o as Fassbender's sex slave leaves you teary-eyed. Definitely, the break-through performance of the year. A Small role by Benedict Cumberbatch and a cameo by Brad Pitt are perfect. This was the first Steve Mcqueen movie I saw, and I am totally looking forward to complete watching his filmography. Overall, a must watch movie.
Rating : 9/10