By Renee’ Collins
Rating: 4 (Out of 5 Reels)
To say this film is intense is an understatement. These types of films are not one’s to see over and over again, at least not for me, but I think everyone should see them to have any idea about what slavery used to be. I will still never understand why or how people could treat each other so badly. Fortunately, it is something I hope never to experience or be witness to first hand.
In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery (IMDB). This film is gut-wrenching to watch because we see Northup and others unwitting descent into the world slavery after being free. They all soon realize there is nothing they can do to get away from their captors. There are several excellent actors in this film who add to its depth, most notably, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano and Sarah Paulson who perform admirably but are almost too real because subject matter is difficult to witness and would suspect portray.
This film is a historical biographical drama therefore no special effects. However, it is an extremely well made and acted film. It is heartbreaking to know slavery ever existed and even more distressing is the fact that it still exists today all over the world.