Reviewlett #2

“Oh dear... Oh no... Well, that’s awful” is what the woman who sat next to me during the film 12 Years a Slave kept saying. Now, obviously I could go on and on about those special people who just have to let the whole cinema know how they feel... and I really want to... but that’s not what this is about.

Truth be told this woman pretty much summed up the film. I don’t mean that it’s a bad film, it was spectacular, but the things that happened in it where simply... awful.

And that’s what makes the film so great; it’s a “hold no punches” look on the reality of slavery. Obviously none of us feel like we need a reality check on slavery, we know it was and still is a terrible thing but as it turns out there are a few realities that many of us did not know. Such as the fact that even before the American Civil War there were a few free black men, women and families living happy lives in New York City. This is important because if there were no free black men at this time then there would be no kidnapping of free black men and subsequently no enslavement of said free black men and even subsequently-er no plot line for 12 Years a Slave.

So reality check; the few free black men were only as free as the white men said they were.

Second reality check; there was no holding back on beatings.

That’s what makes this film so great, the director, Steve McQueen, knew that the man holding the whip wouldn't pull his punches so why should he? It’s about honesty, brutal honesty.

So, if you can stomach the brutal and bloody violence that comes with an honest slave film like this then I recommend seeing it whenever you can, but if not then... Well, I say still see it (but maybe close your eyes when the whipping starts).