12 Years a Slave

• Title: 12 Years a Slave
• Directed by: Steve McQueen
• Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt
• Duration: 134 Min
• Rated: M16
• IMDb: 8.5

Review: At last I had the chance to watch Steve McQueen’s adaptation of the Solomon Northup’s book “12 Years a Slave”. Solomon Northup (brilliantly interpreted by Chiwetel Ejiofor) lived in New York with his family (his wife and his two kids). His life was stable, he was a free black man living the “American Dream”, until he was invited to join two other men to preform in several places, since he was a brilliant violinist. But unfortunately for him, the invitation was just the beginning of the worst time of his entire life. Solomon ended abducted and sold into slavery.

While being a slave, Solomon faced the cruelty of some white men who just treat them like their property and a series of events that are really tough to watch. In fact, there are only a few things that are easy to watch in this 2-hour drama. Fassbender’s character was really powerfully and I must confess that there were times where I was really angry about it. So much power and greed drove him to complete madness. Fassbender was really great portraying a slave owner, giving a huge touch of cruelty and evil to the film.

It was really hard for me to imagine how could someone treat another one with such amount of cruelty. Without only a little amount of hope, Solomon sees him self trapped in this “nightmare” and tries to survive to the whole thing. After long years of suffering, Solomon sees at last the opportunity to escape after meeting a Canadian abolitionist, Bass, interpreted by Brad Pitt.

This powerful and tough drama is also filled with brilliant performances by Benedict Cumberbatch and Lupita Nyong’o. Hans Zimmer also strikes again with a really great soundtrack that involves the audience into the film.

But there is a lot more in “12 Years a Slave” than just slavery. I left the theater in complete silence, astonished for what I had just seen. A message of hope, a portrait of the cruelty of men and a powerful story that is tough but also captivating.

Steve McQueen really got me with this one. “12 Years a Slave” is a 2-hour drama that will shock you and that sometimes will make you feel angry but there is so much substance in this film that it is impossible for me no to advise you to go and watch it. “12 Years a Slave” is more than a must-see, it is a true masterpiece!

4.5/5