12 Years was a draining experience that left me feeling as though I’d been punched in the gut.
The writing, mood, and cinematography are amazing. Ejiofor deserves an Oscar more than anyone I’ve seen on film. The rest of the cast are similarly fantastic.
We witness Solomon Northup be tricked into slavery and then passed through ‘Masters’ with varying empathy levels. Ejiofor maintains a dignity and courage as he pleads with others to not fall into despair.
Director McQueen isn’t afraid to linger on tragic situations, forcing me to look away as Northup feebly struggles to prevent himself from hanging as his fellow slaves keep themselves to themselves for fear of finding themselves in a similar position. Some may consider it too much or grotesque. But there is no denying its power.
It’s amazing to think that this is Lupita Nyong’o’s debut! Definitely one to watch.
This is not a film for the faint of heart. A scene consisting of Ejiofor simply looking around and then directly at us felt particularly intimate. I found myself wondering what I’d do in a similar position. Realising that I’d be shrugging my shoulders and saying “But what can I do?” just made me want to kick myself.
As gut-wrenching as this film was however, I’m glad I saw it.
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