12 Years a Slave (2013)
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The story
In 1841, Solomon Northup, a free African-American man and talented musician living in New York, is lured by two men promising short-term work in Washington, D.C. Instead, he is drugged and sold into slavery. He is transported to New Orleans and sold to a plantation owner. The film follows his struggle to survive and maintain his identity while navigating the brutal and dehumanizing system of slavery in the South, where he is forced to work on plantations for twelve years.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Solomon Northup, a free man in New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana. He is first sold to William Ford, who treats him with some kindness but eventually sells him to the abusive Edwin Epps. Northup endures physical and psychological torment, witnessing the brutal treatment of others, such as Patsey. He eventually manages to send a letter home but is betrayed by the courier. While working on a construction project, he meets Samuel Bass, who also opposes slavery. During a moment of reprieve, Northup recognizes a man from his past in New York. He eventually escapes and returns home to his wife and children. The film concludes with an epilogue detailing his real-life memoir, his role in the abolitionist movement, and the lack of records regarding his death.
- First release year
- 2013
- Runtime (minutes)
- 134
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom; Luxembourg
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Steve McQueen
- Writers
- John Ridley · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Chiwetel Ejiofor · Solomon Northup; Michael Fassbender; Benedict Cumberbatch; Paul Dano; Paul Giamatti; Lupita Nyong'o; Sarah Paulson; Brad Pitt; Alfre Woodard
- Genres
- biographical; historical drama
- Themes
- slavery
- Tone and mood
- somber; unflinching
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; biographical; drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- the 1853 slave memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
- Reception
- The film received widespread critical acclaim, being named the best film of 2013 by several outlets and praised for its visceral, unflinching portrayal of slavery.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 8.90 · scale: 10 · review count: 379
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Motion Picture – Drama · win
- Production trivia
- The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2023.; The production used four historic antebellum plantations for filming.; The film's score was composed by Hans Zimmer.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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