12 Years a Slave |

Sorry I have been MIA for the past week, so much going on, I adopted 2 full grown siamese cats, returned from a fast 48 hour DC trip, started a new workout routine, and had a few photo sessions. But I’m BACK!

Fur babies

So Friday nite we decided to have a movie “date” and go see the just released 12 Years a Slave directed by Steve McQueen, starring Chiwetel Ejiofar (Dirty Pretty Things) another favorite film of mine, in the lead role of Solomon Northup a free man of color that was kidnapped and sold into slavery.

Director Steve McQueen

Based on a true story, 12 Years a Slave takes place in the 1800’s and chronicles Solomon Northup’s experience being held captive as a slave for 12 years in New Orleans. This film is not Django Unchained, or Roots, it is a realistic painful depiction that does not sugar coat the american slavery experience, and what it must have been like. Although difficult at times to watch, it is an important film that should be seen by everyone. Steve McQueen and screenwriter John Ridley do an excellent job in portraying the brutality of slavery, showing a history that still haunts African-Americans today. The story is amazing considering that Solomon was able to escape after 12 years, and write a memoir about his experience, I know there were countless people that were not as fortunate as him.

The cinematography captures the heat of the south, you can see and feel the humidity. The whippings that take place are filmed in such a way that you “feel it”, the emotions and expressions are so raw. Lupita Nyong’o plays Patsey the victim of the master’s affection, as a woman it is heart wrenching what she has to endure. I can’t imagine this film not making to the oscars for best picture, I will be seeing this one again.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Lupita Nyong’o

It is hard to believe that slavery was not that long ago, I can’t even imagine being a “slave”, but I know my great-great-great grandparents on my mother’s side in Mississippi were slaves on some plantation and on my father’s side I know they were from president John Tyler’s plantation in Richmond Virginia, my grandmother was proud to say she was a descendant of president Tyler (a hint of what slavery did to people that you would be proud of this…). When President Tyler was in office he was criticized by abolitionists for allegedly having children with slaves and selling them so I know there is truth to this story my grandmother aways told.