12 Years a Slave (2013)

In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.

Director:

Steve McQueen

Writers:

John Ridley (screenplay), Solomon Northup (based on "Twelve Years a Slave" by)

Stars:

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michael Fassbender

Top 250 #166 | Won 3 Oscars. Another 220 wins & 206 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Solomon Northup
Dwight Henry	...	Uncle Abram
Dickie Gravois	...	Overseer
Bryan Batt	...	Judge Turner
Ashley Dyke	...	Anna
Kelsey Scott	...	Anne Northup
Quvenzhané Wallis	...	Margaret Northup
Cameron Zeigler	...	Alonzo Northup
Tony Bentley	...	Mr. Moon
Scoot McNairy	...	Brown
Taran Killam	...	Hamilton
Christopher Berry	...	Burch
Bill Camp	...	Radburn
Mister Mackey Jr.	...	Randall
Chris Chalk	...	Clemens

Storyline

Based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life.

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Plot Keywords:

slave | physical abuse | male frontal nudity | male rear nudity | male full frontal nudity | 

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Taglines:

The extraordinary true story of Solomon Northup

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

14A

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Esclave pendant douze ans

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$923,715 (USA) (18 October 2013)

Gross:

$56,667,870 (USA) (2 May 2014)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Regency Enterprises, River Road Entertainment, Plan B Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Taran Killam often impersonates Brad Pitt on Saturday Night Live (1975). Though both actors appear in this film, they never met nor worked together in it. Pitt's Plan B company produced the movie, and Pitt's role was only a small one.

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Goofs

When Solomon is being sold to Master Ford, the two nude women in the background both have shaved pubic hair, something that would not have been done in the 1840s.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Overseer: Alright now, y'all fresh niggers. Y'all gonna be in the cuttin' gang.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Caddyshack II (2014)

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Soundtracks

The Devil's Dream
Arranged by Nicholas Britell and Tim Fain
Performed by Tim Fain

User Reviews

Astonishing and heartbreaking

I just saw this at LFF. It is a brilliant piece of cinema. Clearly it's central theme is slavery, and the depravity human nature can so easily reach; but it has many other small moments that trigger thoughts about wider issues - the role of religion being one for example. It is violent, and in some respects awful to watch, but this is the story of Solomon Northup told truthfully. There is nothing saccharine about the way Steve McQueen presents this and that is what makes it so astonishing. You cry because what you witness is truly terrible, not because the violins are out and the director's tugging on your heart strings. All the acting is first rate, as is the score by Hans Zimmer. This really should be essential viewing for everyone old enough to understand it.