A trailer for Twelve Years a Slave has been released that looks absolutely fantastic.
It is a difficult subject, certainly, but one that has not gotten remotely enough discussion given its importance within the scope of American history. This story comes with a twist: the main character, Solomon Northup, was a free man in New York State, when he was induced through false promise of employment, to cross into a slave state and then kidnapped into slavery by the men with whom he was working.
His narrative of captivity is available as an historical document online, and makes for a fascinating read:
...Since my return to liberty, I have not failed to perceive the increasing interest throughout the Northern States, in regard to the subject of Slavery....The cast is fantastic: Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, Alfre Wooddard, Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the lead role.
I can speak of Slavery only so far as it came under my own observation—only so far as I have known and experienced it in my own person. My object is, to give a candid and truthful statement of facts: to repeat the story of my life, without exaggeration, leaving it for others to determine, whether even the pages of fiction present a picture of more cruel wrong or a severer bondage....
This really has Oscar contender written all over it, doesn't it?
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