Biases or prejudices
Dominant point of view
12 Years a Slave was released in 2013 and scooped up many awards in various categories for its immaculate cinematography and brilliant depiction of slavery. The film is set in 1853 and highlights the tribulations of Solomon Northup, a role played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, after he was kidnapped and sold into slavery (IMDb). Solomon’s point of view dominates the movie as his story is followed from his kidnapping to his release from slavery. The film is an adaptation of the 1853 slave memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon. Solomon is a free man living in Saratoga Springs, New York, with his family before his kidnapping. He is tricked and kidnapped before being sold to slavery. During that period, he is sold and resold to slave owners and encounters numerous experiences. He gains favor in the eyes of some and is loathed by others. He meets other slaves and helps viewers see the evils of slavery through his eyes. He makes several attempts to escape before the final one succeeds. Solomon’s story is one of the tribulations that eventually depicts victory against slavery.
Heroes and villains
The villains in the story are the slave owners and slave traders. The slave owners include William Ford and Edwin Epps, who have slaves in their plantations picking cotton contrary to their will. William is depicted as a better slave owner because he sells Solomon to another slave owner to protect him from the plantation carpenter John Tibeats. Edwin is ruthless and sadistic as he beats up his slaves, exposing viewers to the evils of slavery. Heroes in the story include Solomon, who makes several attempts to fight slavery and his freedom throughout the film. Samuel Bass is another notable hero in the film as he helps Solomon mail a letter that would later secure his release. His interpretation of the Christian faith is favorable for the slaves and advocates for their better treatment. He castigates Epps’ open cruelty towards the slaves and is a ray of hope for the slaves. The local sheriff who makes the journey is the carriage is also a hero as he secures Solomon’s release.
Historical facts justification
Historical facts justify the presentation in 12 Years a Slave. Several historical accounts ran the kidnapping of free men and their sale into slavery during the dark ages. The picking of cotton by slaves for their slave owners was rampant as it offered cheap labor (Burnard). The mistreatment of slaves by any account in the movie may be less revealing as other accounts depict the worse treatment of slaves. Some reports indicate that the slaves were severely mutilated if they failed to achieve set targets. The presentation of different views by slave owners and the privileged members of the society is also accurate (Burnard). Some hated slavery and others supported it. The stories of triumph, in the end, are also accurate as slavery is eventually abolished and free labor advocated for in its place.
Cultural stereotypes challenged
A popular stereotype is that terrible experiences by a man such as Solomon turn him into a beast. The entire film depicts the dehumanization of slaves and deliberate attempts to strip them of their dignity. Through isolation and mistreatment, slavery seeks to damage the will and belief of these slaves. It weakens their bodies, mind, and soul, while in the long run seeking to convert them into monsters. Solomon maintains his dignity throughout the film and becomes the hero with clenched jaws. Through all the pain and suffering, he does not become an evil and vindictive character.
Artistry and acting
Filming of the movie
The movie was filmed in four historic plantations where slavery originally occurred. This created a sense of reality at the time of acting and provoked the appropriate emotions amongst the cast. The choice of characters for the film was also top-notch. The choice of African Americans as slaves accurately depicts events during slavery as black people formed the majority of slaves (Kermode). Additionally, white people to represent the slave owners and traders were also accurate as they created the bulk in this group. Additionally, the focus on the physical abuse of the slaves using whips was effective in relating a sense of reality.
Costuming, camera angles, scenic depictions
The costuming in the movie accurately depicts historical realities in how the two groups dressed during that period. Before his capture and sale into slavery, Solomon was an elegantly dressed man in New York. The change to tattered and dirty clothes during slavery shows the difference in life status. The costumes worn by the slave traders and owners depict their affluent life and position in society. The film used a single camera, and the filming was done from the most appropriate angle (Masters). This ensured that the aesthetic value of the film was retained. Scenic depictions of slavery by the film were crucial, especially the hanging of Solomon in his master’s absence. It portrayed sadness and despair.
Music
Music is a predominant feature in the film, with the leading actor, Solomon, being a violinist from the very onset. The directors of the film incorporate music in various scenes to convey different messages. Patsey hums to herself while making corn dolls in the field. This provides her with some respite from the harsh reality slavery presents to her. It helps comfort her and bring a sense of relief in her life plagued with physical and mental torture. Music is also used to demonstrate how a sweet sound can mask brutality. Solomon plays when a woman is sold to cover the screams of her children so that white couples do not turn away. His music masks the pain and suffering the children express, while also helping distract himself from the reality of her pain and the lives of those children. Workers in the field sing to remain motivated and also to ensure that overseers are capable of locating them with ease.
Character
The performances by all the characters were excellent, especially Solomon. His role was not just about his ability to recite his lines but his body’s capability to display his emotions. The clenching of the fists to illustrate rage and the slight parting of his lips in a bid not to say more than necessary is crucial (Dargis). It displays the effects of slavery on freedom of speech. The slave traders at the onset of Solomon’s slavery also play their role immaculately as they are cunningly convincing. Lupita Nyong’o’s performance as Patsey is also splendid. Her role depicts her as a fiery, delicate, and ferociously proud character. Throughout the film, she owns this role and expresses her emotions candidly while surviving as a slave. Her expressions make viewers empathize with her situation while provoking hatred towards Epps, who abuses her body, mind, and soul.
Works Cited
Burnard, Trevor. Planters, Merchants, and Slaves: Plantation Societies in books. British America, 1650-1820. Google Books, University of Chicago Press, 2015,
Dargis, Manohla. “The Blood and Tears, Not the Magnolias.” The New York Times, 2013. Web.
IMDb. “12 Years a Slave.” IMDb, 2013.
Kermode, Mark. “12 Years a Slave – Review.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 2018.
Masters, Tim. “Sean Bobbitt on 12 Years a Slave: ‘the Camera Does Not Look Away.’” BBC News, 2014.