12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave Please note this essay does discuss the entire film so please avoid until after seeing the film if you do not want the end or key scenes spoiled 12 Years a Slave is Steve McQueen’s film adaptation of Solomon Northup’s memoir about a free black musician in 1841 who lived in Saratoga Springs, New York who was kidnapped, sold into slavery and sent to work on various plantations in Louisiana where he remained for 12 years until he was able to prove his status as a free man and secure his release. The film is pretty faithful to the book, which is told in the first person. I have not seen Hunger or Shame, Steve McQueen’s other two films. The cast includes: Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Michael Fassbender, Luipta Nyong’o, Sarah Paulson, Alfre Woodard and Brad Pitt. I knew prior to seeing this film that it would be uncomfortable at times but one scene, in particular, to b