Introduction the movie 12 years a slave was released in 20, covering the precivil war period in america, this astounding award winning motion picture film, tells the story of a free man sold into slavery and regaining his freedom in the end. Mar 02, 2014 the searing drama 12 years a slave was named best picture at the 86th academy awards on sunday night. The slavery drama 12 years a slave won the academy award for best picture on sunday, making history as the first movie from a black director to win the film industrys highest honor in. True story behind brutal film that has shocked cinemagoers the film is based on a book written by solomon northup which describes. To understand a historical development, however, a literary analysis of the works isnt sufficient to uncover all tendencies and reasons for before mentioned development. Jan 10, 2014 as steve mcqueens oscar favourite 12 years a slave opens at cinemas, sarah churchwell returns to the 1853 memoir that inspired it one of many narratives that exposed the brutal truth about.
It does indeed mean that the protagonist suffered 12 years of slavery. Screenwriter john ridley says the film sparked discussions about slaverys legacy. Mar 02, 2014 an illustration of patseys whipping from the book 12 years a slave. Jan 29, 2014 awardsline editor christy grosz contributed to this report. Does america need 12 years a slave to win a best picture oscar. The movie twelve years a slave was based on the slave narrative written by solomon northup. Theres no doubt that oscar nominations and possibly some wins lie ahead for director steven mcqueens acclaimed drama, 12 years a slave.
But finally, its been done through a bigbudget, mainstream performance. Neutral lets get one thing clear, slavery is a blight on humanity. Ive put off reading this for several months, knowing the content from the oscar winning film. Aug 21, 20 12 years a slave is the memoir of solomon northup, born free in upstate new york but sold into bondage in 1840s louisiana.
This is really an incredible true story, that of solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from new york who was sold into slavery, and spent spoiler in the title 12 years slaving in louisiana, while having to keep his education and bid for freedom quiet until an opportune time for fear of. Additionally, the accuracy of and factual detail in 12 years a slave have kept this book prominent as a reliable historical reference on slavery for more than 150 years since it first debuted. His abduction as a free man, his resulting transformation into a slave and his detainment as. The film, telling the story of a forbidden love affair between two rugged cowboys forced to keep their attraction secret, was lauded for its unflinching look at the mens lives and for scenes that portrayed such intimacy in a fairly unprecedented way for mainstream film. Director steve mcqueen shines a bright light on the horrors of the past a time when caged and tortured humans were fuel to the machine that is america.
Here are a handful of additional examples, comparingcontrasting scenes from 12 years a slave the movie vs. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12 years before being released. Northup does not mention the endemic incest of slavery, but he does dwell. Screenwriter john ridley says the film sparked discussions about slavery s legacy. His abduction as a free man, his resulting transformation into a slave and his detainment as a slave irreversibly altered the course of his life. As steve mcqueens oscar favourite 12 years a slave opens at cinemas, sarah churchwell returns to the 1853 memoir that inspired it one of many narratives that exposed the brutal truth about. Backlash, the unseen and mcqueen the brutal drama has been anointed a sure winner in some circles but the oscar race is a marathon, not a sprint.
The film 12 years a slave tells the reallife story of solomon northup. Watching 12 years a slave, which won the oscar for best picture this year, it was almost as if i were there at edwin epps cotton plantation in the 1840s, walking past the gorgeous white mansion in the lush, green louisiana landscape. Slave, not born a slave the making of slavery the sense of proprietorship of slave traders, owners, and other propagators of chattel slavery that was prevalent in the united states until the middle of the 19th century would be absurdly laughable were it not steeped in a legacy of perversion, of anguish, of tragedy and. Solomon northups memoir twelve years a slave 1853, martin luther king jr. British director steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave has won the best picture award at this years oscars. Twelve years a slave, solomon northup 1808 1863 twelve years a slave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by american solomon northup as told to and edited by david wilson. Aug 12, 20 twelve years a slave the original book from which the 20 movie 12 years a slave is based illustrated.
The book is detailed in its account of life on a cotton and sugar plantation and the daily routine of slave life during the first part of the 19th century. Itll win so that the academy can forgive itself for making no other good films about slavery for the last hundred years. Oct 28, 20 12 years a slave is a powerful, yet emotionally draining film that i recommend everyone i know see. Steve mcqueen your story is amazing, and in no good way. The story takes place in 1840s america, and revolves around solomon northrup, a free black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Solomon northups twelve years a slave essay 2715 words. Twelve years a slave the original book from which the 20 movie 12 years. After oscars, sales jump for 12 years a slave book firstpost. Finding the real patsey of 12 years a slave vanity fair. Perhaps the best written of all the slave narratives, twelve years a slave is a. In 1841, northup, a free black man, was drugged and then sold into slavery. In 2006, brokeback mountain was the presumed favorite to win the coveted academy award for best picture.
A testimony of personal strength and a telling portrait of american slavery in the precivil war south. Born in july 1808, he was the son of an emancipated slave. If youve seen the film but not read the book be warned that the film does not come close to. Twelve years a slave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by american solomon northup as. Revolution to the civil war 17831861 african americans biography. The winners photos mcqueen later took the microphone at the end of the evening when 12 years a slave won best picture, and made no mention of the writer. Directed by the british artist steve mcqueen, the film version casts.
Both of these films feature the institution of slavery. With 12 years a slave, oscars get it right this year. A more accurate portrayal of the antebellum south, 12 years a slave was nominated for nine oscars. But was the third child of anne and solomon may 30, 1834. That collective gasp you hear is the audience jolted by intolerable cruelty in 12 years a slave. In one of the most hotly contested competitions of recent years, the film beat eight. Holocaust narratives dont always, always have to end with upbeat validation. Northups odyssey and the oscarwinning 20 film 12 years a slave.
Born and raised a freeman in new york, with a house, a loving wife and two children, northup was offered a shortterm engagement as a violinist in washington d. Does america need 12 years a slave to win a best picture. After this, these feature have nothing else in common. Dec 23, 20 the film 12 years a slave tells the reallife story of solomon northup. The 12 years a slave book shows slavery as even more. As steve mcqueens oscar favourite 12 years a slave opens at. After all, slavery was not as 12 years a slave makes quite clear a happy thing.
Not hopefully for our enjoyment but giving us the understanding and knowledge not to repeat and if done and we are made aware do something about. After reading solomon northups twelve years a slave, i was overwhelmed with his experience. Throughout his book, solomon goes into details describing his life as a slave, which validates our critique of slavery. Joe walker, the film editor for 12 years a slave, said the depiction of the lynching of solomon northup was crafted with much foresight. He was in bondage for 12 years in louisiana before he was able to secretly get information to. Mar 03, 2014 at the oscars, 12 years a slave won best picture. Kept in bondage in louisiana for 12 years, enduring backbreaking labor, unimaginable violence, and inhumane. Hollywood treatments of racial history routinely provide the emotional satisfaction of the happy ending in one of a few ways. Elizabeth was not mentioned in the book or the movie. Northup, a black man who was born free in new york state, details his being tricked to go to washington, d. An illustration of patseys whipping from the book 12 years a slave.
Whether its blacks in the south, jews enslaved by the egyptians, concentration camp captives enslaved by hitler, by stalin, and mao tse tung. 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. The winners photos mcqueen later took the microphone at the end of the evening when 12 years a slave won best picture, and made no. Twelve years a slave is a captivating narrative of the life of freedom and slavery experienced by one african american man prior to the american civil war. Even though it scored one nom fewer than hustle and gravity, 12 years a slave remains the film to beat among the nine best picture nominees. Northups book presents a more complex picture of slave life than does the movie, which concentrates sharply on themes of oppression and victimization. Surrounded by cypress trees, i could hear the cicadas, and very nearly feel the humidity on my skin. Yet if you think the movie offers a terribleenough portrait of slavery, please, do read the book. The film is based on the memoir written by solomon northup, which reveals what happened after solomon played by chiwetel ejiofor a free black man living in new york in precivil war america was kidnapped and sold into slavery, before he was able to. Major props to the oscars for acknowledging 12 years a slave as the the best picture of 20, reversing its recent trend of embracing less challenging fare like argo and the artist. Attention to details in the story can open opportunities for classroom discussion. In chapters i and ii, northup tells of his life as a free black man living in upstate new york. Narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of newyork, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and. Awardsline editor christy grosz contributed to this report.
Available on kindle ebook and can be read on any device with the free kindle. I saw somewhere that brad pitt suffers some disease. Narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of newyork, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the red river in louisiana. Mar 03, 2014 major props to the oscars for acknowledging 12 years a slave as the the best picture of 20, reversing its recent trend of embracing less challenging fare like argo and the artist. All 12 years a slave does is continue to validate the real slave experience. Twelve years a slave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by american solomon northup as told to and edited by david wilson. Narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of newyork. He was in bondage for 12 years in louisiana before he was able to secretly get. Twelve years a slave by solomon northup free ebook. Twelve years a slave 1853, i have a dream 1963 and 12 years a slave 2014. Still, 12 years a s lave offers many teachable moments for historians. The movie won the bafta award and the academy award for best picture as well as the golden globe award for best drama. I hope my film can play a part in drawing attention to this important book of courage.
Mar 02, 2014 12 years a slave now and forever shares best picure honors with gone with the wind, winner of the award in 1940. Mar 03, 2014 the slavery drama 12 years a slave won the academy award for best picture on sunday, making history as the first movie from a black director to win the film industrys highest honor in 86 years. Response to 12 years a slave essay 41 words 5 pages. Why 12 years a slave will win best picture at the oscars. Conversations about slavery inspired by 12 years a slave. Jan 17, 2014 after all, slavery was not as 12 years a slave makes quite clear a happy thing. In 1841 he was tricked, captured, and sold into slavery in washington, d. Now the major motion picture that won the 2014 academy award for best picture. The searing drama 12 years a slave was named best picture at the 86th academy awards on sunday night. The book twelve years a slave is wonderfully written and sadly hundreds of stories that are true and need to be written. When solomon northup, born a free black man in saratoga, new york, was offered a shortterm job with a circus in washington, d. He lived, worked, and married in upstate new york, where his family resided.