IMDb8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes96%
Metacritic96
Google Users92%
Director: Steve McQueen•Genres: Biography, Drama, History
In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from New York, is drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery. He must navigate the brutal realities of plantation life and maintain his identity and will to survive, desperately seeking a way to reunite with his family. The film chronicles his harrowing twelve-year ordeal across various plantations in Louisiana.
12 Years a Slave received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its unflinching portrayal of slavery, its powerful performances, and Steve McQueen's masterful direction. It was lauded for its historical accuracy and emotional impact, earning numerous awards and being recognized as a significant cinematic achievement in its depiction of American history.
A profoundly moving and essential cinematic experience that demands to be seen.
Features powerhouse performances, especially from Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o.
Praised for its raw, unflinching depiction of the horrors of slavery and its historical significance.
Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's powerful storytelling, emotional impact, and the outstanding performances. Many viewers found it to be a necessary and important historical document that is both disturbing and deeply moving.
Won the Academy Award for Best Picture, becoming the first film directed by a Black person to do so. Also won Oscars for Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o) and Best Adapted Screenplay. Nominated for numerous other awards, including Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor).
The film is based on the true story and autobiography of Solomon Northup, published in 1853, which detailed his experiences as a kidnapped man sold into slavery.
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