10 Emotionally Gutting Films That Wrecked Their Audiences
4. 12 Years A Slave
Based on a first-hand account of slavery in 1840s America, Solomon Northup's memoir lays the groundwork for a highly acclaimed and detailed portrayal of one of the darkest periods in the nation's history.
Steve McQueen's proficient style of filmmaking makes for an incredibly sensitive rendition in 12 Years a Slave. Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) is taken from his family by Washington conmen and forced to serve on several southern plantations for over a decade. He witnesses a plethora of sadistic treatments from horrific beatings to the seemingly endless grief of families separated by a truly barbaric system.
Solomon's extended stay in captivity is treated with an unrelenting authenticity as he and other slaves suffer under their masters. The film lingers for so long on its violence and just as the camera never looks away, neither do we. Several moments focus closely on the characters' faces, their full agony translating onto the audience. They endure so much hardship and cruelty, with the film's slow pacing stressing the twelve years the protagonist spent in captivity. Widely regarded as the best film of 2013 by many, 12 Years a Slave stands as the most honest and harsh portrayal of slavery put to the silver screen.