Analysis of the movie 12 years a slave

Superbly directed and acted especially leading man chiwetel ejofor playing solomon northup, and set with high levels of realism in precivil war america, there is little to separate what the filmmakers intended and what they achieved. The movie, 12 years a slave, focuses in one the time in history when blacks were looked at as a less being then human. Twelve years a slave 1853, i have a dream 1963 and 12 years a slave 2014. Its clear from the start that this movie isnt content to simply be viewed. There were many scenes that made it hard to not look away from the screen. Solomon northups 12 years a slave recounts the authors life story as a free black man from the north who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in th. Analysis of the movie 12 years a slave 1114 words 5 pages 12 years a slave is based on a true story which occurred in 1841 where a free africanamerican violinist name solomon northup who lived in saratoga new york with his wife and children was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre civil war under the name of platt. The time frame of this story was from 1841 to 1853, a span of 12 years. Cinematographer sean bobbitt went on record saying that he enjoyed the. A man sits languidly atop a wagon of the raw cane root.

To date, we have analyzed 52 movie scripts, a great resource for screenwriters. Twelve years a slave has twice been adapted for film. There were the highest expectations for the film 12 years a slave 20, the motion picture about the enslavement of africans in america by. A scenebyscene breakdown creates a foundation for even deeper analysis of the story. The only thing that lets this film down is the rather odd beginning and the at times lessthanclear dialogue. While both of those boxoffice and critical successes offered compensation for their heavy subject matter with outbreaks of humor and a hip attitude, 12 years a slave is a somber, meditative, almost poetic film that delivers the horrors of bondage stripped down and headon. The movie 12 years a slave, directed by steve mcqueen, depicts a free black man, solomon northup, from new york who was drugged and kidnapped in order to be sold into slavery in the precivil war south. Its his life story of how he got lured in a trap and kidnapped in 1841. Based on the autobiographical narrative 1853 of solomon northup. Analysis of the movie 12 years a slave 1477 words 6 pages. The story is set in america mainly in washington d.

In this episode we take a closer look at how steve mcqueen uses violence in his best picture winning masterpiece 12 years a slave. This film is impressive to any person that watches it as it tries to explain what the salves go through in the south of antebellum. In 1999, a historical marker was installed in saratoga springs to commemorate northups life. Introduction in the movie 12 years a slave, we are introduce to a middle class well educated african american free man, name solomon northrop, who was married man with two children. Known for his imaginative and rigorous sensibility, mcqueen, the son of caribbean parents, was born in ealing, england, and attended the. Epps is solomon s third and most inhumane master, whom solomon serves for ten years. To understand a historical development, however, a literary analysis of the works isnt sufficient to uncover all tendencies and reasons for before mentioned. An analysis of sean bobbitts superb 12 years a slave cinematography. In 1841, african american solomon northup, a free man, is kidnapped and forced into slavery under the name platt for 12 years. A group of slaves stand in a sugarcane field, bedraggled but resolute, looking into the camera. Sometimes you have to prepare yourself for the journey a film takes you on. Analysis of the movie 12 years a slave directed by steve mcqueen.

The incredible cinematography of 12 years a slave kat clay. But im glad that mcqueen didnt doubt the power of dramatic filmmaking when he turned his attention to 12 years a slave. There were the highest expectations for the film 12 years a slave 20, the motion picture about the enslavement of africans in america by the black british visual artist and film director steve mcqueen. Northup, being a free man living in saratoga, new york with his family, was a gifted and talent violinist. Steve mcqueens devastating new movie, 12 years a slave, begins with the words based on a true story and ends with a description of what happened to solomon northup and his assailants. Analysis of the movie 12 years a slave by steve mcqueen. What do you judge to be northups dominant purpose in retelling the narrative of his years as a slave as shown in the movie adaptation of his book twelve. Analysis of the movie 12 years a slave by steve mcqueen bartleby. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and. Last week i caught up with oscar nominated film, 12 years a slave. Use of lighting in 12 years a slave eng225 film critique. In the movie the main character is a african american male whose name is. In 1984, pbs produced a television movie called solomon northups odyssey, and in 20, an oscarwinning film titled 12 years a slave was released. He worked as a slave for 12 years before the government was able to locate and free him.

Solomon northups 12 years a slave recounts the authors life story as a free black man from the north who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the precivil war south the son of an emancipated slave, northup was born free. Need help with chapter 21 in solomon northrups 12 years a slave. Masterful filmmaking techniques lend 12 years a slave. Solomon northups book twelve years a slave covered the story of northup himself as he was kidnapped and forced into slavery. The movie focuses on a free black man named solomon northup, the protagonist, who was kidnapped and sold back into slavery. A film analysis the movie, 12 years a slave, was released november 8th 20 and was directed by steve mcqueen. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. The movie is filled with powerful scenes and moments of tension that portray the cruel, gruesome. They feel organic to the story and while we may be able to recognize. Its about how he was sold into slavery in the south, and what happened during those 12 years a slave. Apart from that, it is a very good film, but be prepared to be shocked by some of the violence.

The film 12 years a slave is not only an exceptionally good screened, but also provides food for thoughts to its audience. The following analysis will provide some insight to the film and the story and explore why this movie will not only leave you in tears, but cause you to have a new found respect for people that endured. Read this essay sample on 12 years a slave summary essay. Analysis of the movie 12 years a slave by steve mcqueen 96 words 6 pages the movie 12 years a slave, directed by steve mcqueen, depicts a free black man, solomon northup, from new york who was drugged and kidnapped in order to be sold into slavery in the precivil war south. During his traumatic time in captivity, solomon learns the difference between living and surviving and has. Naturally a joyous creature, a laughing lighthearted girl, frequent beatings and abuse made her despondent and suicidal as the years went on. In the movie 12 years a slave the people involved where solomon northup, his family, friends, and white slave owners. Twelve years a slave study guide contains a biography of solomon northup, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The movie itself is shockingly truthful as to the events that actually happened.

The biggest release of the week is the hunger games. From start to finish, basic facts about the time, the places, the people, and the practices of the day are incorporated, sometimes in excessive detail, into northups story. What do you judge to be northups dominant purpose in retelling the narrative of his years as a slave as shown in the movie adaptation of his book twelve years a slave. The movie 12 years a slave directed by steve mcqueen was based off a memoir of solomon northup during 1840, who once was a free man. Screenplay by john ridley based on a twelve years a slave by solomon. What makes 12 years a slave remarkable are the consciousness, skill and experience of solomon northup, his being an embodiment not of potential but of actual valuevalue valued formed by liberty, knowledge, accomplishment and family relations that was denied by those who captured him. Epps is married to mistress epps, and the two have at least two children, although only one, young master read full character analysis bass is a kindhearted white carpenter from canada who works on a construction project for edwin epps. Steve mcqueens film fudges several details of solomon northups autobiographyboth intentionally and notto more completely portray the. The movie opens with a group of slaves receiving instruction on cutting sugar cane. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and endure those 12 years as a slave. However, the occasional hostility to 12 years a slave also derives from an enduring sense that the bleak history of racial slavery is the exclusive property of african americans. Based on the 19thcentury memoir of solomon northup adapted here by screenwriter john ridley, 12 years a slave follows the tribulations of an educated carpenter, musician and family man from new york state who, in 1841, was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south a shockingly common phenomenon. In fact, 12 years a slave is a film that doesnt have may moments that feel disingenuous or trumped up for dramatic license.

The movie 12 years a slave, directed by steve mcqueen, depicts a free black man, solomon northup, from new york who was drugged and. She was a victim of repeated rapings by edwin epps and also of the jealous cruelty of epps wife. A movie of preordained importance because of its seemingly frank depiction of slavery, 12 years is actually closer to a heightened fable than any profound example of periodpiece realism. The film directed by steve mcqueen 12 years a slave is a great example of this genre. The movie 12 years a slave is based on the book 12 years a slave by soloman northup. It shows how brutal and inhumane american slavery is. Most notable are the uses of both lowkey and highkey lighting, which are used to set the mood for each scene.

The movie won the bafta award and the academy award for best picture as well as the golden globe award for best drama. Its a didactic film in the very best sense of the word, even. Twelve years a slave is a 20 movie that was directed by steve mcqueen based on the 12 years a save memoir by solomon northup. The intense narrative of solomon northup, freeman kidnapped and taken to the south, is an exceptional story accompanied by exceptional cinematography. He lived, worked, and married in upstate new york, where his family resided. Its far from comfortable viewing, but 12 years a slaves unflinchingly brutal look at american slavery is also brilliant and quite possibly essential cinema.

Twelve years a slave, written by solomon northup, is an 1853 memoir about a man who was born free in new york and who, after being tricked into traveling to washington, dc, was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the deep south for a period of twelve years. So it is with 12 years a slave, a harrowing, unforgettable drama that doesnt look away from the reality of slavery. The movie 12 years a slave by solomon northup is a movie that involves many different techniques to set the lighting throughout the movie. He faces the hardships of being a slave under the hands of a few different slave owners. The three most important aspects of 12 years a slave. The stench of hanging and flogging that drifts in the steamy louisiana air of 12 years a slave makes watching occasionally unbearable i looked away more than once. This journeys power is a cumulative effort, the final sum of which cant be entirely anticipated until it arrives. Patsey a 23yearold black slave of edwin epps, and the most tragic figure in 12 years a slave. Analysis of the movie 12 years a slave 1735 words 7 pages. It is a laudable adaptation by ridley, whose novels are stray dogs 1997, the drift 2002 and what fire cannot burn 2006, and who has worked on the films three kings 1999 and undercover brother 2002. Concerning the historical accuracy of 12 years a slave.