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

Stars:

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michael Fassbender

Top Rated Movies #197 | Won 3 Oscars. Another 236 wins & 326 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, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, 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 will forever alter his life.

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Plot Keywords:

torture | whipping | slavery | male frontal nudity | separation from family | 

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Taglines:

The extraordinary true story of Solomon Northup

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence/cruelty, some nudity and brief sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Twelve Years a Slave

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$923,715, 20 October 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$56,671,993

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$187,733,202

Company Credits

Production Co:

Regency Enterprises,River Road Entertainment,Plan B Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

DTS (Digital DTS Sound) Dolby Digital SDDS Dolby Surround 7.1

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On location, shooting in Louisiana took only thirty-five days with one camera, which prompted amazed laughter from an audience of Directors Guild peers, including interviewer Kathryn Bigelow, for the startlingly efficient direction of Steve McQueen.

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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 virtually impossible 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 Honest Trailers: Boyhood (2015)

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Soundtracks

Awake on Foreign Shores
Written and Performed by Colin Stetson
Courtesy of Constellation
By Arrangement with Third Side Music Inc.

User Reviews

And the Oscar goes to...

chitchens fan • 2 hours ago △ ▽

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Well, to begin, I cannot remember the last time I could not get up at the end of a movie. I literally could not rise up from my seat. My body felt as though it were being weighed down by something considerably larger and heavier than myself... History had it's way with me( I am an African American woman). Thank you Mr. McQueen, Mr. Ejiofor, Ms. Nyong'o, Ms. Paulson and others, and yes, even Mr. Fassbender. I am not a film critic nor a movie hobbyist, although I try to stay current, but what I am is a human being trying to understand the various problems and issues within our country. This movie is a potent reminder of why we are where we are as a society today. How man can be so unflinchingly cruel to his fellow man, especially if he looks, speaks or behaves differently, I will never understand.