He lived, worked, and married in upstate new york, where his family resided. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In retelling the harrowing true story of solomon northup. Apart from that, it is a very good film, but be prepared to be shocked by some of the violence. To hear some tell it, perhaps hyperbolically but with real conviction, 12 years a slave may be the definitive cinematic treatment of american slavery. In the years before the civil war, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from upstate new york, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south. In 1984, pbs produced a television movie called solomon northups odyssey, and in 20, an oscarwinning film titled 12 years a slave was released. Its his life story of how he got lured in a trap and kidnapped in 1841. They are 12 years older, but overwhelmed at seeing him. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, solomons chance meeting with a canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life. Learn the major plot points and story structure of 12 years a slave directed by steve mcqueen. Twelve years a slave was recorded by david wilson, a white lawyer and legislator from new york who claimed to have presented a faithful history of solomon northups life, as i received it from his lips p. In 1999, a historical marker was installed in saratoga springs to commemorate northups life.
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. As a slave, solomon has no means for sending the letter. Summary of 12 years a slave essay example for free newyorkessays database with more than 65000 college essays for studying. The british filmmaker steve mcqueen has said a lot of people did not want his awardwinning movie 12 years a slave to be made mcqueen, who.
Narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of new york, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the red river in louisiana 1853. One day, two men approach him and ask if he will accompany them and play his fiddle as they travel to washington dc to the circus they work for. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and. Although solomon is skeptical about if he can trust armsby, solomon asks him to send a letter on his behalf. 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. Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner michael fassbender, he also finds unexpected kindness from another, as he struggles continually to survive and maintain some of his. He faces the hardships of being a slave under the hands of a few different slave owners. Based on a true story, 12 years a slave is a riveting account of a free black man kidnapped from new york and sold into brutal slavery in mid. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comic con sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central.
Northups book was published in 1853, less than a year after his. 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. Steve mcqueens hardhitting slavery drama represents his boldest, thorniest essay yet on the uses and abuses of religion. Known for his imaginative and rigorous sensibility, mcqueen, the son of caribbean parents, was born in ealing, england, and attended the. A man sits languidly atop a wagon of the raw cane root. Clayton adamss family heirloom a leatherbound first edition of a. The record director steve mcqueen semisubmerged a narrative that roots out the way. 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. In 1841, african american solomon northup, a free man, is kidnapped and forced into slavery under the name platt for 12 years. 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. John ridley, the writer of 12 years a slave, had tremendous advantages and disadvantages in adapting solomon northups true story to film. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and endure those 12 years as a slave. The son of an emancipated slave, northup was born free.
In the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Written by fox searchlight plot summary plot synopsis. This movie is an adaptation of the slave narrative and also memoir of the same title that was published in 1853. The only thing that lets this film down is the rather odd beginning and the at times lessthanclear dialogue. 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. This piece was originally published in december 20, before the release of the film 12 years a slave. Rarely, its true, have the cruelties of the antebellum south been so thoroughly catalogued. By getting it wrong steve mcqueens film fudges several details of solomon northups autobiographyboth intentionally and notto more completely. Considering the social and economic importance of slavery in americas history, the scarcity of serious films depicting the daily life of slaves in the confederate states is significant especially since the aftereffects from this shameful episode still echo through the culture. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad. Twelve years a slave is based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. Twelve years a slave, narrated by louis gossett, jr. Northup, a free black man in new york in the early 1840s, was kidnapped and lived though unspeakable abuse as a slave in the south. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave.
The movie won the bafta award and the academy award for best picture as well as the golden globe award for best drama. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from. Essay analysis of the movie 12 years a slave 12 years a slave is a drama film directed by steve mcqueen and premiered in 20. Solomon northup is a free black man living in upstate new york with his family in the 1840s. Solomon northup s 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 movie opens with a group of slaves receiving instruction on cutting sugar cane. What writers should learn from 12 years a slave youtube. 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. Its about how he was sold into slavery in the south, and what happened during those 12 years a slave. Based on the autobiographical narrative 1853 of solomon northup.
In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. 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. Steve mcqueen, the british video artist who made hunger and shame, spares his audience little. Twelve years a slave has twice been adapted for film. Steve mcqueen, the director of 12 years a slave, narrates a sequence from his film. 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. Based on the autobiographical narrative 1853 of solomon northup, the film. 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. Alfre woodard at an event for 12 years a slave 20 lupita nyongo in 12 years a slave 20. Northup worked on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12 years before his release. However, when a poor white man named armsby comes to epps plantation to work, solomon seizes his chance to enlist the white mans help. Its far from comfortable viewing, but 12 years a slaves unflinchingly brutal look at american slavery is also brilliant and quite possibly essential cinema. The movie is filled with powerful scenes and moments of tension that portray the cruel, gruesome. Twelve years a slave public domain audiobook at librivox.