DR.

RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA NATIONAL LAW

UNIVERSITY

ENGLISH
MOVIE REVIEW: 12 YEARS A SLAVE
DIRECTED BY STEVE MCQUEEN

(SYNOPSIS)

Submitted By – Submitted To –

Atharv Anand Dr. (Mrs.) Alka Singh,

200101013 Assistant Professor(English)

BA-LLB Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya

1st Semester (Sec-A) National Law University,

Lucknow

 TITLE:

Movie review- 12 years a slave.

AIM OF THE PROJECT:

The aim of the review is to show the genuine message conveyed by the movie 12 Years a Slave;
which had the purpose to show a glimpse of slavery and to enlist everyone the antislavery
crusade.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:

Steve McQueen was born on October 9, 1969, in Ealing, near London, England. His parents were
working-class immigrants. McQueen began his formal training at London’s Chelsea College of
Art and Design where he studied painting and later he pursued film at Goldsmiths College.
He directed Shame staring Michael Fassbender which earned him the CinemAvvenire Award for
emerging director. His film 12 Years a Slave won People's Choice Award at the 2013 Toronto
International Film Festival and the 2014 Academy Award for best picture.

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

12 Years a Slave(2013) is based on the true story of Solomon Northup, a black

NewYorker who was kidnapped in 1841 and then smuggled to Louisiana and sold to
slave owners.

However the movie is based on the book written by Solomon Northup with assistance of
David Wilson who was a lawyer in NewYork which became popular in America as more
than 30,000 copies were sold. It educated Americans about the slave life in the south of
America and thus contributed to the growth of anti slavery sentiments.

Movie is set up during the pre-civil war period. Talking about Solomon, his parents were
slave though Northup was born free. He was a multitalented labourer and an
accomplished violin player. He travelled to Washington D.C for playing fiddle in a
circus, where he was drugged, kidnapped and was later sold as a slave into Louisiana.
For next 12 years he worked as human property for different slave masters. He was

 rescued from cruel ownership of Edwin Epps. In January1853, he was rescued by his
friends from north and returned home to his family in NewYork.

Movie is directed by Steve McQueen and is written by John Ridley.

Chiwetel Ejiofor played the role of Solomon Northup who was also called as Patt when he
worked as a slave. Michael Fassbender played the role of Epps and Brad Pitt as Bass.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE PROJECT:

• INTRODUCTION

• THE THEME

• MOVIE MAKING DETAILS

• THE THEME

• THE PLOT

• THE CRITICAL REMARKS

• CONCLUSION

• TRIVIA ABOUT MOVIE

• REFRENCES

CONCLUSION:
Movie depicts the slavery in the south of America. It shows the experiences of slavery and
inhuman treatment of the slaves. Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his
dignity. He meets with a Canadian abolitionist Bass(Brad Pitt) during the 12th year of his
slavery which changes Solomon’s life forever. The film shows the reality of the slavers
and inhuman treatment of African-Americans the Fugitive Slave Act, Racism and
discrimination experienced by blacks at that time.