Director steve mcqueen and actor chiwetel ejiofor on 12 years a slave solomon northup was born a free man and lived the life of a respected musician until 1841, when he was kidnapped. Chiwetel ejiofor stars in his oscarnominated role as a free new york man sold into slavery in the year 1841. Sir steven rodney mcqueen cbe born 9 october 1969 is a british artist, film director and screenwriter. Artist and filmmaker steven rodney mcqueen iii was born in london on october 9, 1969. Its far from comfortable viewing, but 12 years a slaves unflinchingly brutal look at american slavery is also brilliant and quite possibly essential cinema. And steve mcqueen may well become the first black filmmaker to win an. Director steve mcqueen hunger, shame evokes searing drama from this factbased story of a man tricked into slavery 20 years before the civil war. Director steve mcqueen uses his considerable skills to chain us to that man. The british filmmaker steve mcqueen has said a lot of people did not want his awardwinning movie 12 years a slave to be made. Everyone was telling me no, and i didnt take any notice, just like before, mcqueen said during an interview with the big issue. In the antebellum united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. The significance of 12 years a slave winning best picture. To hear some tell it, perhaps hyperbolically but with real conviction, 12 years a slave may be the definitive cinematic treatment of american slavery. Jan 10, 2014 from director steve mcqueen comes this powerful nominee for nine academy awards, including best picture, based on solomon northups astonishing true story.
Here sean bobbitt talks about the making of the oscar nominated film, 12 years a. Though northup was literate, his autobiography was written by david wilson, a white lawyer and state legislator from glens falls, new york. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave. Thats just one of many complexities the movie avoids for the sake of a. Oct 28, 20 12 years a slave is just such an oral account. Lupita nyongo in 12 years a slave 20 12 years a slave 20 chiwetel ejiofor in. Based on the autobiographical narrative 1853 of solomon northup. Steve mcqueen the 12 years a slave interview with kam williams. Director steve mcqueen used louisiana plantations as sets to give the film 12 years a slave, starring chiwetel ejiofor, michael fassbender and lupita nyongo, the. Director steve mcqueens powerful film based on the true story of a man kidnapped. Steve mcqueens period drama 12 years a slave an adaptation of the autobiography of solomon northup, a free man who was sold into slavery was shot in and around new orleans by director.
Oct 17, 20 steve mcqueens period drama 12 years a slave an adaptation of the autobiography of solomon northup, a free man who was sold into slavery was shot in and around new orleans by director of. Steven rodney mcqueen cbe born 9 october 1969 is a british film director and screenwriter. The movie won the bafta award and the academy award for best picture as well as the golden globe award for best drama. Steve mcqueen, the director of 12 years a slave, narrates a. Feb 22, 2014 as the deadline for voting in the academy awards approaches this week, tinseltowns elite could yet make movie history. The director of the africanamerican history and culture museum on what makes 12 years a slave a powerful film lonnie bunch offers his response to the stunning movie, a. As the deadline for voting in the academy awards approaches this week, tinseltowns elite could yet make movie history. His new film 12 years a slave is an unflinching look at human brutality. That conflict provides 12 years a slave with its dramatic backbone, as ejiofor slips further and further into hopelessness and the role of platt as the years blow by. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. In the antebellum united states, solomon northup, a. Long before each came away with an academy award, 12 years a slave director steve mcqueen and screenwriter john ridley were embroiled in a.
The cinematography of the oscar nominated 12 years a slave. Steve mcqueen continues to prove himself as one of the best working directors today. Sep 30, 20 12 years a slave director steve mcqueen and supporting actress lupita nyongo will receive the hollywood breakout director award and new hollywood award, respectively, at the 17th annual hollywood. Two days after seeing 12 years a slave, british director steve mcqueens adaptation of. Director steve mcqueen and actor chiwetel ejiofor, who stars in the film, join fresh airs terry gross to discuss the making of the movie. For 4 minutes, one is privy to the unspeakable horror that was the american institution of slavery. Lightbox is proud to present a new series of interviews with some of the worlds greatest cinematographers. Jul 19, 20 12 years a slave is based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom.
The director of the africanamerican history and culture. Mcqueen and actor chiwetel ejiofor share their thoughts on the real solomon northup, the history, the film and the character. It is one of the most important of the slave narratives because it was published shortly after harriet beecher stowes immensely popular and influential. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by michael fassbender, as well as unexpected kindnesses. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave the. May 12, 2014 based on a true story, 12 years a slave, tells the narrative of solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, who is abducted and sold into slavery. Director steve mcqueen and actor chiwetel ejiofor on 12 years a slave solomon northup was born a free man and lived the life of a. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by michael fassbender, as well as unexpected kindnesses, solomon. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave is the greatest movie about slavery ever made. In retelling the harrowing true story of solomon northup. In many respects, 12 years a slave works like a horror movie, beginning with a sawstyle abduction and proceeding through subsequent circles of hell, the tension amplified by a score.
For his 20 film 12 years a slave, a historical drama adaptation of an 1853 slave narrative memoir, he won an academy award, bafta award for best film, and golden globe award for best motion picture drama, as a producer, and he also. Drawn from the 1853 autobiography of solomon northup a musician living as a free black man in upstate new york with his wife and two children in 1841 12 years. Its his most mainstream movie to date but this proves to me. The movie won the bafta award and the academy award for best picture as. Nov 05, 20 the director of the africanamerican history and culture museum on what makes 12 years a slave a powerful film lonnie bunch offers his response to the stunning movie, a favorite for the best. Oct 24, 20 12 years a slave was a film that no one was making director steve mcqueen tells fresh airs terry gross that he wanted to help fill a huge hole in the canon of cinema. Not only is the memoir by solomon northup now an oscarnominated film, but director steve mcqueen is encouraging schools to use the. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man living in upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Oct 17, 20 12 years a slave starts its true story in 1841 when solomon northup british actor chiwetel ejiofor, a violin player living free in new york with his wife and children, gets tricked into a job in. Apart from that, it is a very good film, but be prepared to be shocked by some of the violence.
But director steve mcqueens childhood contains a painful secret he has never confronted. Then he drops him and us into a pitiless chamber of horrors that would be unimaginable if it didnt acutely define the american slave trade. Director steve mcqueen, right, and actor chiwetel ejiofor consider a scene on the set of mcqueens new orleansshot epic 12 years a slave. Chiwetel ejiofor as solomon northup platt michael fassbender as edwin epps lupita nyongo as patsey sarah paulson as mary epps paul dano as john tibeats benedict cumberbatch as william ford alfre woodard as mistress harriet shaw brad pitt as samuel bass adepero oduye as eliza garret dillahunt as. Oct, 20 the latest entry in this unlikely genre is 12 years a slave, the director steve mcqueens adaptation of solomon northups 1853 memoir. Before it became an acclaimed feature film from steve mcqueen, the autobiography twelve years a slave was the basis for an american playhouse television movie.
Steve mcqueen was born on october 9, 1969 in london, england as steve rodney mcqueen. In 1841, northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free citizen, is kidnapped, stripped of his identity and sold into slavery. Twelve years a slave is based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. Steve mcqueen, the british video artist who made hunger and shame, spares his audience little. With chiwetel ejiofor, michael kenneth williams, michael fassbender, brad pitt. Rarely, its true, have the cruelties of the antebellum south been so thoroughly catalogued. Feb 26, 2020 steve mcqueen won an oscar for movie, 12 years a slave, but according to mcqueen, while he was busy filming the flick, he was told that a movie with black leads wouldnt make any money. Despite being excited to see it during its original theatrical run by the time 12 years a slave was winning gold statues left, right and centre i had begun to question whether this true life story of a freeman kidnapped into slavery wasnt just another awardsbaiting movie masquerading as a worthy prestige picture.
The only thing that lets this film down is the rather odd beginning and the at times lessthanclear dialogue. Oct 25, 20 before it became an acclaimed feature film from steve mcqueen, the autobiography twelve years a slave was the basis for an american playhouse television movie for pbs directed by famed. Oct 05, 2014 the british filmmaker steve mcqueen has said a lot of people did not want his awardwinning movie 12 years a slave to be made. Sue brucesmith, film4s deputy director and a highly respected figure in the british film industry, died saturday. Mar 03, 2014 long before each came away with an academy award, 12 years a slave director steve mcqueen and screenwriter john ridley were embroiled in a bitter feud regarding credit for the films oscar. Steve mcqueen won an oscar for movie, 12 years a slave, but according to mcqueen, while he was busy filming the flick, he was told that a movie with black leads wouldnt make any money. Steve mcqueen on 12 years a slave the film s brutality made its own director look away, but to call it a movie about slavery is, he feels, to miss the point. Not only is the memoir by solomon northup now an oscarnominated film, but director steve mcqueen is encouraging schools to. There are great movies, and there are important movies. Its strange how awards can change your expectations for a film.
If british director steve mcqueens 12 years a slave is named best picture. Superbly directed and acted especially leading man chiwetel ejofor playing solomon northup, and set with high levels of realism in precivil war america, there is little to separate what the filmmakers. The latest entry in this unlikely genre is 12 years a slave, the director steve mcqueens adaptation of solomon northups 1853 memoir. There are movies to which the critical response lags far behind the emotional one.
For his 20 film 12 years a slave, a historical drama adaptation of an 1853 slave narrative memoir, he won an academy award, bafta award for best film, and golden globe award for best motion picture drama, as a producer. Director steve mcqueen has said that he included the sexual. While ejiofor gets the most screen time in 12 years a slave, actors tasked with playing the meanspirited overlords of his captivity faced an equally daunting task. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from. His criticallyacclaimed directorial debut, hunger, won the camera dor at the 2008 cannes film festival. Feb 21, 2017 at this point, hardly anyone would mistake steve mcqueen the britishborn, amsterdambased africanamerican director of 12 years a slave with the late bullitt star of the same. Nov 08, 20 12 years a slave 20 who can possibly argue against the power of this kind of movie, and the injustice that it waves as a welcome reminder. Theres poetry in his struggle, enhanced by a director attuned, for once, to the emotional states of his characters. From acclaimed writer director jeff nichols, loving celebrates the reallife courage and commitment of an interracial couple, richard and mildred loving joel edgerton and ruth negga, who married and then spent the next nine years fighting for the right to live as a family in their hometown. He followed that up with the incendiary offering shame, a wellreceived, thoughtprovoking drama about addiction and secrecy in the modern world.
Entertainment weekly named director steve mcqueen one of the entertainers. Superbly directed and acted especially leading man chiwetel ejofor playing solomon northup, and set with high levels of realism in precivil war america, there is little to separate what the filmmakers intended and what they achieved. Thanks for honoring me with the opportunity to interview you. Apr 10, 2020 director steve mcqueen uses his considerable skills to chain us to that man. He is a director and writer, known for 12 years a slave 20, shame 2011 and hunger 2008.