Steve mcqueens twelve years a slave stars chiwetel ejiofor of serenity, kinky boots, children of men, american gangster, salt as solomon northup, a man living in. When the creators of a drama that would bring solomon northups 12 years a slave to. Oct 11, 20 for the director steve mcqueen, 12 years a slave was one such revelation. Steve mcqueen s 12 years a s lave is the greatest movie about slavery ever made. Steve mcqueens muchhyped slavery drama is a brutal, excoriating and vital companion to quentin tarantinos django. Steve mcqueen interview for 12 years a slave full interview. With his first two fulllength features, hunger and shame, steve mcqueen has established himself as a veritable bard of men who are bleakly imprisonedsometimes physically, often psychologically, and frequently with little. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave is about to make londoner chiwetel ejiofor a huge movie star, and possibly an oscar winner. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave is the greatest movie about slavery ever made. Oct 17, 20 already one of 20s most criticallyacclaimed films and an early oscar frontrunner, for those that keep track of such things steve mcqueen s 12 years a slave depicts the grim true story of solomon northrup, a free, educated black man who was kidnapped and sold into a life of slavery on a southern plantation a seemingly hopeless ordeal that he suffered with considerable resolve. Steve mcqueen on 12 years a slave interview deadline. He starts out in the story and in the book, really, with the idea. Nov 11, 20 mcqueen was amazing and his comments about the need for the book 12 years a slave to be required reading in schools just like the diary of anne frank was spot on. Ejiofors eyes open ours to the painful truth published.
He followed that up with the incendiary offering shame, a wellreceived, thoughtprovoking drama about addiction and secrecy in the modern world. Michael fassbender interview 12 years a slave youtube. Jan 11, 2014 12 years a slave is not an easy watch and nor should it be. Sep 24, 20 steve mcqueen s twelve years a slave stars chiwetel ejiofor of serenity, kinky boots, children of men, american gangster, salt as solomon northup, a man living in new york during the mid1800s. In 12 years a slave, mcqueen offers a wise and empathetic view of the house slave, mistress shaw played by alfre woodard, who has escaped from. For the director steve mcqueen, 12 years a slave was one such revelation. Sep 29, 20 12 years a slave is based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. Steve mcqueen s muchhyped slavery drama is a brutal, excoriating and vital companion to quentin tarantinos django. This is not a black movie or a white movie on the day 12 years a slave received nine oscar nominations, we picked up the phone to the hunger and shame.
Oct 07, 20 blacktree tv new york shawn edwards sits down with steve mcqueen s go to man, actor michael fassbender who gives a moving performance in 12 years a slave. Sep 07, 20 steve mcqueen today explained in more detail both the intentions and genesis of his film 12 years a slave, which has premiered to huge applause and a smattering of appalled walkouts at the. Sep 07, 20 12 years a slave, the 19th century drama from director steve mcqueen, has garnered oscar buzz after receiving not one but two standing ovations in less than a week, the latest at the toronto. The question is, why do we know anne frank and not solomon northup. America, slavery, and mcqueen and tarantinos two very. For having covered such dark material in all three of his feature filmshunger 2008, shame 2011 and this years 12 years a slave steve mcqueen will be the first to admit hes.
The director tells catherine shoard why its important for. 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. In the new film twelve years a slave, british director steve mcqueen. Steve mcqueens film fudges several details of solomon northups. The latest entry in this unlikely genre is 12 years a s lave, the director steve mcqueen s adaptation of solomon northups 1853 memoir. In 1853 solomon northup, a freeborn black man living in saratoga, n. So we both started doing some research, and my wife found this book by solomon northup, twelve years a slave, and said, i think ive got it. Director of oscartipped film compares the book on which its based to the memoirs of anne frank and explains motives behind making it. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad pitt, it is pitched pretty near perfectly in terms. Join filmmaker steve mcqueen shame as he discusses 12 years a s lave, his new film thats based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom in the precivil war. Jan 08, 2014 12 years a slave director steve mcqueen has said that when casting for the lead role of solomon northup in his oscarnominated film there was only one man up to the task. Twelve years a slave by solomon northup penguin books. For people of a certain age, hearing the name steve mcqueen evoked memories of the toughguy actor known as the king of.
Many sequences in steve mcqueens new movie, 12 years a slave the true story of a free black man kidnapped in 1841 and sold to southern plantation owners were. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave. His criticallyacclaimed directorial debut, hunger, won the camera. Steve mcqueens oscartipped 12 years a slave is a biopic of solomon northup, a free man kidnapped and sold into slavery in the 1840s. Steve mcqueen 2014 awards interview steve mcqueen 12 years. Aug 31, 20 had steve mcqueen not already christened his.
His book was written 97 years before anne franks diary. Mcqueen was amazing and his comments about the need for the book 12 years a slave to be required reading in schools just like the diary of anne frank was spot on. Chiwetel ejiofor interview 12 years a slave time out film. Amid comic book epics, bromantic comedies and sequels of sequels.
It announced the arrival of a new steve mcqueen to hollywood. At the beginning of 12 years a slave, the kidnapped freeman solomon. Steve mcqueens powerful 12 years as slave, based on solomon northups 1853 account of his abduction into slavery, has drawn the scrutiny of historians and literary critics as well as other more vocal detractors who in dismissing it as torture porn presume that it privileges sadism over realism. Oct 09, 20 12 years a slave interview with michael fassbender, steve mcqueen and more about the oscar contender. Oct, 20 the latest entry in this unlikely genre is 12 years a slave, the director steve mcqueens adaptation of solomon northups 1853 memoir. Director steve mcqueen, working from a script by john ridley and with the notable contributions of production designer adam stockhausen, cinematographer sean bobbitt and editor joe walker, has turned the book twelve years a slave into the film 12 years a slave, interpreting solomon northups story with accuracy, exquisite craft and. Solomons bravery and life deserve nothing less steve mcqueen, director of 12 years a slave, from the foreword. Aside from the blogsphere factchecking and critical deniers its impossible to. When the filmmakers who would bring solomon northups 12 years a slave to the big screen needed an historical consultant, henry louis gates, jr. Director steve mcqueen arrives at the premiere of 12 years a slave at the directors guild on oct. Artist and filmmaker steven rodney mcqueen iii was born in london on october 9, 1969.
A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave the. Narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of newyork, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near. Youre forced to bear witness to all the atrocities of the. Steve mcqueen interview 12 years a slave time out film. Director steve mcqueen and actor chiwetel ejiofor on 12. The film was shot on a louisiana plantation that sits next door to where solomon northup spent his years as a slave. Oct 23, 20 over the last few days, an interesting discussion has broken out over steve mcqueen s masterful 12 years a slave. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave the new. Director steve mcqueen has said that he included the sexual. Steve mcqueen on the awards, 12 years a slave, and. Gates 12 years a slave 185 12 years a slave a conversation with steve mcqueen henry louis gates, jr. Steve mcqueen and chiwetel ejiofor talk 12 years a. Join filmmaker steve mcqueen shame as he discusses 12 years a slave, his new film thats based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom in the precivil war.
Solomons bravery and life deserve nothing less steve mcqueen, director. Already one of 20s most criticallyacclaimed films and an early oscar frontrunner, for those that keep track of such things steve mcqueens 12 years a slave depicts the grim true story of solomon northrup, a free, educated black man who was kidnapped and sold into a life of slavery on a southern plantation a seemingly hopeless ordeal that he suffered with considerable resolve. Jan 06, 2014 steve mcqueen s oscartipped 12 years a slave is a biopic of solomon northup, a free man kidnapped and sold into slavery in the 1840s. As you can see, in the book, it is mistress epps who wants to bribe northup to drown patsey. I hope my film can play a part in drawing attention to this important book of courage. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from. British artist steve mcqueen has a preoccupation with the human body, a preoccupation he displays in his films hunger, shame and now 12 years a. In the minutes leading to this scene, northup chiwetal ejiofor has transformed before our eyes from a free man who adores his wife and children to an enslaved man who is introduced to the incalculable violence of. Steve mcqueen talks 12 years a slave, why he wants to discuss.
Oct 21, 20 in 12 years a slave, mcqueen offers a wise and empathetic view of the house slave, mistress shaw played by alfre woodard, who has escaped from the slave owners most brutal treatment by. One of the most haunting scenes in the film 12 years a slave comes shortly after the main character solomon northupnow known by his enslavers as plattarrives in new orleans. The latest entry in this unlikely genre is 12 years a slave, the director steve mcqueens adaptation of solomon northups 1853 memoir. In 12 years a slave, steve mcqueen juxtaposes beauty. To hell and back for 12 years a slave chicago tribune.
Jan, 2014 steve mcqueen on the awards, 12 years a slave. Screenwriter john ridley talks 12 years a slave filmmaker. Over the last few days, an interesting discussion has broken out over steve mcqueens masterful 12 years a slave. Steve mcqueen today explained in more detail both the intentions and genesis of his film 12 years a slave, which has premiered to huge applause and a smattering of appalled walkouts. His criticallyacclaimed directorial debut, hunger, won the camera dor at the 2008 cannes film festival. Director steve mcqueen left works with actors on the set of 12 years a slave. Thereve been more films about roman slavery than american video interview 12 years a slave. 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. But consider further the subtitle of northups 1853 book.
121 1300 538 296 871 326 444 277 1214 52 748 153 953 403 726 246 1099 168 682 1052 1495 533 1471 1196 1330 111 378 68 145 391 1379 264 475 678