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    12 Years a Slave

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    “12 years a Slave” is a powerful, challenging film that will shake you to your core. Far from being a picture that will guilt you or bring you down, it gives you new life. Based on a true story, it stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup. The year is 1841 and Solomon is a free Negro, living in New York with his wife and two children. Kidnapped by two men, Solomon is sold as a slave to cotton plantation owner William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) For 12 years, Solomon Northup endures the pain, hardships, and humiliation of being a slave.

    An important point to reiterate is that this is a challenging film to watch. I would say “difficult” but this word implies a chore, something unpleasant. That certainly is not the case. It’s challenging because slavery is ugly. It calls war, racism and injustice brothers. It’s not pleasant to discuss or even think about but it's important to acknowledge this part of history. It shouldn't be sugarcoated or overlooked. Appropriately, the best word to describe “12 Years a Slave” is “unforgettable”. You will see both psychological and physical torture; you'll bear witness to the breaking of the weak at the hands of the powerful. Most importantly, you will also see hope.

    I go see movies to be transported to planes I could never visit, to walk in the shoes of others, to learn, and to be entertained. At all of these, “12 Years a Slave” excels. What makes me love the film is that it is tough; it’s a monument to justice by pointing an accusatory finger at people that may be long-dead now, but need to be called out for being evil. Sure, Benedict Cumberbatch as William Ford, Solomon's first owner, is sympathetic and pretty reasonable considering the racism he is surrounded by, but as the film develops there’s no forgetting that he is a slave owner. For all of his talks about respecting Solomon because of his intelligence, he gives no second thoughts to separating a black mother from her children or buying people as if they were cattle, all for the sole purpose of earning himself more money or making his own life more convenient.

    The film perfectly captures the experience of being a slave, not only because of the physical brutality at the end of a whip but also because of the mental anguish the audience feels. This movie has a running time of 134 minutes, that’s about 45 minutes longer than you standard movie. This extra running time allows you to lose yourself in the story. Like Solomon, you have no idea when it’s going to end. You cannot predict where the story is going. You never know what ordeal Solomon will be exposed to next. You can only pray that the two of you can endure it. Yes, the two of you. This is an emotional experience. It’s not just a movie. You’re right in there, certainly not suffering at the hand of cruel masters, but on an emotional level, it packs a punch like nothing else. That makes it sound overwhelming, but it isn’t. The key is that by witnessing what is going on, even though you’re not able to leap onto the screen and fight off Solomon’s tormentors, you are doing something to help. It has nothing to do with the color of your skin. Like a good documentary about an upsetting subject, the fact that this story IS being made is a miracle. It’s a belated victory, but a triumph nonetheless. This story lives on now for you to see. Take pleasure in cursing the foul earth that William Ford and Edwin Epps are buried in, but most importantly, the systems and institutions that created them. Never forget what took place and keep an eye out to ensure it never returns.

    Thinking about "12 Years a Slave", I tear up, but I'm glad that I do. Yes, slavery is an unpleasant matter, but the film is, ultimately, a triumph. You have powerful performances from everyone on-screen. This material is treated with the utmost care and respect. The look, the sounds, the music, the cinematography, the emotion present is the kind of stuff that is extremely rare. And once again, because the story is being told instead of having been forgotten, it is one that makes you feel alive. Don't shy away because you think it'll be too much for you to handle."12 Years a Slave" is a rejuvenating experience; after it's over you have a whole new appreciation for even the simplest of comforts. It’ll change you, for the better. (Theatrical version on the big screen, November 17, 2013)

    10
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    adamwatchesmovies@  27.9.2016 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

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