I had heard only brilliant things about the film 12 years a Slave ever since it was premiered at Telluride film festival this year. Terrific reviews started pouring in after the first screening with some critics considering it as the major front runner for Oscars this year and the best film ever made on slavery. The film continued its dream run in the Toronto Film festival as well where it received the award for Best Film in People’s Choice Award. Hence, the film was quite special and very eagerly anticipated for all good reasons.
So, now the question that is bound to arise is, “Is the film worth all the hype, accolades and praise?” Well, I am not an expert but for a film-buff like me it was a real pleasure to watch it on big screen. The film was a treat to my senses that always crave for good cinema and I must say it satiated my desire. This is the kind of film which I would like to keep in my heart and nurture in future, a film that educated me and brought tears and goose bumps and a film that broke my heart. 12 years a Slave not only lives to the hype but surpasses it as well. It is a brilliant and very beautiful film and Steve McQueen deserves every bit of praise for this masterpiece. This is definitely one of the best films made this year and will create quite a buzz in the upcoming award season.
Steve McQueen’s previous film Shame was a beautiful depiction of how sex addiction tore apart the life of a New-Yorker with Michael Fassbender’s riveting performance (which was surprisingly snubbed by the Academy). Shame was shocking and it was hard to digest the uncomfortable truth at parts and so is 12 Years a Slave. It is not an easy watch; the film is extremely heart breaking and doesn’t offer an easy resolution. There are unbearable torture scenes where you might have to take your eyes off from the screen, there are uncomfortable dialogues about racism and slavery which reveals the harsh and bitter truth about 1800’s American socio-economic culture. There is nudity, brutality, tragedy, tears and that’s what makes 12 years a Slave such a powerful and heart wrenching film and a modern masterpiece.
The film is a historical drama based on the 1853 autobiography of Solomon Northup, the New York black musician who was kidnapped and sold to slavery. It is about the terrifying and devastating journey Solomon goes through for 12 years of his life while working in the plantations in Louisiana State under different masters. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup and Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Paul Dano and Paul Giamatti in prominent roles.
The film depicts the horrifying act of slavery which was prevalent in Amercian culture during the pre-civil war era. The conversations between the trader Paul Giamatti and master Benedict Cumberbatch about the price of the slaves (who are human beings as well) shake you up and you never quite settle down while watching the film. The complexity in the relation between Fassbender and his wife and how the life of Lupita Nyong’o is trapped between them is terribly soul aching. The scene where her wife hits her or pathetic torture scene towards the end leaves you devastated and emotionally drained. You can’t help but 
sympathize for the characters, for the unbearable pain they have been put up to, the hatred and abuse they are greeted with everywhere, how they have been denied the basic rights of humanity and the animalistic way they are treated with by the whites. And finally you experience the magical happiness of freedom when Solomon finally reunites with his family. The tears in his eyes say it all; what it means to be a free man and why we crave so much for independence.
Chiwetel Ejiofor is the soul of the film and he delivers an exceptional performance. Ejiofor’s act is pure divine in each and every scene of the film and he literally defines the word powerful performance. Even in the scenes where he just stares at the celling or just playing the violin, the way he emotes the pain, the helplessness or heartache just through his eyes is pure bliss. This is what you get to see when an actor follows the vision of a masterful director and submits himself to the role. After Cate Blanchette in Blue Jasmine, this is my favorite performance this year so far and although it’s too early to comment without seeing the rest of the performances, but Ejiofor has a strong chance to clinch the Best Actor award.
Michael Fassbender has always been a brilliant actor and I don’t need to say anything about his performance here. When he and Steve McQueen unite, we have seen the result in the past and this time as well it’s no exception. Fassebender brings out the raw brutality and ugliness in his character with terrific confidence and he is a delight to watch. Lupita Nyong’o, the Kenyan actress deserves a word of praise as well for her memorable act. The film will be remembered for its memorable performances from the ensemble cast.
And, this write up can’t be complete if I don’t mention about the person whose vision led to one of the finest film this year, the director Steve McQueen. The way he holds the camera with minimalistic movement at the end of a long shot just to keep the lingering feeling alive shows how brilliant a film maker he is. Imagine the scene where Solomon is hanged on the tree and you see everyone just passing around or wandering in the balcony, while some of them are terrified while helping him out with some water to drink, the rest are not really bothered. A simple shot captured so powerfully adds a different level of depth to the film. Also, I must speak how beautifully the landscapes are captured, the gorgeous sunset across the river is breathtakingly beautiful.
12 Years a Slave is a stunning piece of art and a perfect example of uncompromising and courageous film making. It’s painful and heart breaking and yet very strong and captivating ride. You cannot afford to miss this one not just because it depicts a tragic chapter of the history but it questions human morality and conscience every moment. The film is a gastronomic delight for your appetite which craves for pure cinema, pure human emotions and where film making and acting reaches an unimaginable height of greatness.
A brilliant, brilliant and absolutely brilliant film!!! Take a bow everyone associated with this film.
Cinema Paradiso 