Spoilers ahead for a really good movie
The movie 12 Years a Slave (2013) is a horrifying depiction of a series of true events from the 1860s. The movie follows Solomon Northup, a free black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery by 2 men whom which he trusted. The mise en scene of the film is beautifully created from the set design of the plantations to the camera angles that enhance the horrors. The still frames with minimal cuts are used to prolong the intense and disturbing feelings of scenes, such as when Solomon had to beat one of his fellow slaves. You feel every emotion deeply as you are forced to witness exactly what is happening. The colours of the film make you feel as if you’re not witnessing some of the worst crimes against humanity in history. It reminds me of the subversion done in the film Midsommar (2019) with its colours and mostly in broad daylight. A key moment that I found very interesting was after Solomon got into the fight with Tibeats on Ford’s plantation, the overseer Chapin protected him from being killed. Chapin did so because Ford would have lost his deposit for Solomon and prevented it. The part that I find interesting is how the film depicts how, even if a slaver and actively taking part in owning people, rules are still followed towards the slaves, and they are protected to an extent. It all culminates in a “happy” ending that sees Solomon getting rightfully freed by one of his friends from back home. He returns home to see his family completely different from which he was taken from. Solomon was robbed of his life and watching his kids grow up and you feel it deeply in a scene that has no music. The silence speaks so much as to the emotions that both the family, and you as the viewer feel while seeing it. The score only begins a track when the entire family embraces for the first time in over a decade. 12 Years a Slave is a beautifully haunting depiction of the stories that are often untold from when the treatment of people was at one of its worst.
Abhinav Suresh
The emotional depth and visual narrative of 12 Years a Slave are expertly captured in your assessment. You’re quite right when you point out how the movie uses color, quiet, and cinematography to arouse strong feelings. Your understanding of the moral complexity of some people and the long-term effects of Solomon’s trip gives your study a deeper level of consideration. It’s an insightful and well written analysis of a stirring movie.
Zoe Pecuszok
I found this submission to be wonderfully written, and evoked emotions that made me want to watch the film. I enjoyed the fact that you added how the camera angles enhance horror in films rather than just explaining the angles they used. I also really thought it was interesting that you highlighted the themes of subversion through colour, as well as how you connected that to midsommar. Overall, I found your comment captures the film’s complexity and emotional depth, and there was minimal room for critique besides perhaps adding a few more key details about edits, and camera movements.