Historical drama "12 years of slavery". Actors C. Egiofor and M. Fassbender in the film "12 years of slavery"

According to the overwhelming majority of film critics, the best film in 2014 was Steve McQueen's film "12 Years of Slavery". Actors Michael Fassbender and Civetel Egiofor performed the main roles. This film received many awards and collected a record number of rave reviews.

From the history of creation

The film is based on real history and is shot according to the autobiography of a person who has gone through all the torments of slavery. The author of the memoirs is a certain Solomon Northap. Steve McQueen is a descendant of slaves from the West Indies. It was a matter of honor for him to remove such a film. However, selecting actors for the film "12 years of slavery", he had not yet read the autobiographical work of Northap. The director planned to make a film on this topic, but in a different scenario. The book Nortap advised McQueen's wife, who accidentally found her and "swallowed" in just one day.

The main actors of the film "12 years of slavery"

Civetel Egiofor played the very same Northamp, whose book so delighted the director's wife. The actor was known until 2013 for such films as "Real Love", "Melinda and Melinda", "Dirty delights." Perhaps the best work of Egiofor in cinema is the image in the film "12 years of slavery". The actor in the role of Solomon Northap was unusually penetrating. He conquered the hearts of millions of spectators. In the list of awards, Ejiofor for this work was the BAFTA award.

Michael Fassbender played Edwin Epps in the historical drama "12 years of slavery". Before the shooting of this film, the actor already had experience with McQueen ("Shame"). The world famous Fassbender has done roles in the films "Jane Eyre", "Dangerous Method", "Inglourious Basterds" and, of course, "12 Years of Slavery". The actor was nominated for his role in the film McQueen for the Golden Globe Award.

It should be said that the Hollywood star has an extremely multifaceted talent. In order to be convinced of this, it is worth comparing the image of the noble Rochester from the film in the book of Charlotte Bronte and the villain with sadistic inclinations from the drama "12 years of slavery".

Actors

In the film, McQueen was also played by Lupita Nyongo, Paul Dano, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, Paul Jiamatti and Benedict Cumberbatch. Lolita Niongho for the role of Patsy in the movie McQueen received an "Oscar". Benedict Cumberbatch, best known today for the role of Sherlock Holmes, played the role of humane slaveholder. Humane in comparison with the hero Fassbender.

Plot

Events unfold in the first half of the 19th century. In those years in America there was still lawlessness in relation to the black part of the population. Especially in the southern states.

As already mentioned, in the center of the plot of a tragic story is a man named Solomon. He lives in the northern part of the country, in which he can fully consider himself a free citizen and lead a full life. He has a family and children, for which he is ready to do anything. Solomon's work is also quite in demand: he works as a musician and regularly gives performances that are very popular. Once during the tour, he decides to have a drink with his companions in order to celebrate a successful tour. Solomon does not imagine how all this will turn out to be a nightmare for him ...

During the feast the musician loses consciousness, after which he finds himself in an unknown place for him. Any attempts to call for help turn into a failure. He is beaten and subjected to humiliation, to which the protagonist is not ready. Solomon is betrayed as a runaway slave and put up for auction. No one believes a black man who claims that he is not who they are trying to extradite him for. Instead, it is bought by one of the planters living in the southern states.

The slaveowner, whose image embodied on the screen Cumberbatch, is not so despotic. He treats the protagonist even with some sympathy.

The real nightmare begins after Solomon overpowers Epps. In the domain of the hero Fassbender there are many slaves. They are forced to work from morning till night, endure hunger, beating and humiliation. Often the owner of the plantation gets drunk to unconsciousness and creates truly horrifying things. Particularly difficult is Patsy, who once, brought to an extreme point, begs Solomon to kill her, thereby ending the endless torment and humiliation.

Hardly you can say that the film has a happy ending. Solomon manages to achieve freedom. But this happens after a long twelve years. During this time, much has changed. When the main character returns home, he learns that he was a grandfather a few years ago. The grandson was poured by Solomon in honor of the missing relative.