12 Years a Slave, the latest film from director Steve McQueen (the man behind the incredible films Shame and Hunger), tells the true story of Solomon Northup, a celebrated violinist in the 1840's who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. If you've heard any of the buzz about the film, you've probably heard that it's an unflinching and brutal look at American slavery. That's true. You've probably also heard that it's a draining, powerful film that's going to leave you feeling wrecked and devastated. That's also true. But, it's not going to be in the way you think. Make no mistake about it, 12 Years a Slave is astonishingly brutal. But while the violence is explicit and unflinching, what will linger with you about the film isn't the violence itself; it's the pervasive, nonchalant nature of it all. McQueen uses long takes and background staging to make the violence that pervades every aspect of the slave experience simply another element of life that can't be escaped. In one sequence, a character is nearly killed while, in the background, life goes on and everyone barely notices. It drives home the dehumanizing nature of slavery, as well as the way that violence and cruelty weren't just accepted - they were common to the point of boredom. McQueen's talent is matched in every way by his cast. While the slew of big name actors in glorified cameos could be distracting, it never is; instead, each actor plays their parts well, disappearing into the roles so quickly that it's never a shock to see them. By the time Brad Pitt shows up, we barely notice him; we're so focused on Northup's internal struggle that he's just accepted into the film. But in the end, this film really belongs to one man: Chiwetel Ejiofor. Yes, Michael Fassbinder is spellbinding and terrifying, but there's not a scene in the film that doesn't focus on Ejiofor, who plays Solomon as a man forced to hide himself from the world. While Ejiofor's rage anchors the early part of the film, before long he's withdrawn and hiding from everyone around him, doing his best to stay unnoticed. That's a hard role for an actor to play, but Ejiofor rises to the challenge, and McQueen lets his face do the work, expressing all of his loss and emotion in simple, astonishing ways. In no way is 12 Years a Slave an easy watch. But what you're prepared for - shocking violence and brutality - isn't half as effective (and wouldn't have been as effective) as what McQueen has done. Instead, he's forced us to look at the casual, ubiquitous violence and cruelty of American slavery - and that's a far more powerful and emotional time than you're prepared for.
- Josh Mauthe
- Josh Mauthe
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