Plot

In the early 1840s, Solomon Northup, a skilled violinist and carpenter, travels to Washington D.C. with his wife and two children in search of work. However, during a brief period away from his family, Solomon is kidnapped by men who claim he owes them $80 for work done on their farm. The men drug him unconscious and sell him to James Biddleford, a wealthy plantation owner in Louisiana. Solomon finds himself forced into slavery, with no memory of how he got there or any way to communicate with his family. He is given the name "Tibeau" and assigned to work on the plantation, where he meets other slaves who have been brutalized by their captors. As Solomon tries to survive and maintain his dignity in the face of unimaginable cruelty, he forms a bond with Patsey, a fellow slave who has been brutally beaten and mistreated. Despite the dehumanizing conditions they face, Solomon and Patsey find solace in each other's company and shared experiences. Meanwhile, Solomon's attempts to escape or gain freedom are met with failure, as well as brutal punishment from his captors. However, he also encounters a few individuals who treat him with kindness and humanity, including a kind-hearted slave named Eliza and a plantation owner named William Ford, who is initially cruel but later shows compassion. Throughout the film, Solomon grapples with the moral implications of slavery, wondering how he ended up in this situation and what fate has in store for him. As the years pass, Solomon's story becomes intertwined with those of other slaves on the plantation, including Patsey, who is eventually sold to a new owner. The film culminates in a dramatic and intense sequence of events that will test Solomon's resolve, his relationships with others, and ultimately, his very existence. Based on the true story of Solomon Northup, "12 Years a Slave" is a powerful and poignant portrayal of one man's struggle for freedom and humanity during the darkest period in American history.

Reviews