Page 26 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • November 6, 2013 Chiwetel Ejiofor stars in brutal tale of slavery, survival by Dennis Seuling “Twelve Years a Slave” is the story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an educated black man and talented vio- linist who lives with his wife and children in Saratoga, New York in 1841. Two circus promoters offer him a lucrative two-week gig in Washington, D.C., and Solomon accepts. In Washington, Solomon is wined and dined, but the next morning finds himself in chains and is soon stashed aboard a steamboat bound for Georgia, to be sold as a slave. The movie chronicles the dozen years Solomon works on plantations, is passed from one owner to the next, wit- nesses unspeakable inhumanities, and is subject to the whim of his “masters.” He soon sees that a slave who can read and write is of little value to slave owners, and so hides his education, remaining silent, taking orders, enduring unspeakable hardship, trying to survive day to day, always hoping he will one day reunite with his family. Escape is virtually impossible, for where can a slave go or hide with- out money? Like “Schindler’s List,” which has become the defini- tive cinematic treatment of the horrors of the Holocaust, “Twelve Years a Slave” may serve the same purpose for the institution of slavery. Rather than making a sweep- ing indictment, director Steve McQueen bases the film on Northup’s own book of the same name to take view- ers through the slave experience. In the early scenes, the well-dressed Solomon is depicted as a respected member of his community and devoted family man. These few scenes are important to illustrate the sharp contrast to his role as slave. To the white slavers and owners, he is mere property purchased for cash as one would buy a cow or horse, and expected to work at whatever he is told. This complete lack of freedom is a shock to a man born free, and he quickly learns that intelligence is more handicap than asset to one enslaved. Ejiofor, a regular face in movies for a number of years in supporting roles, gives a breakout performance in “Twelve Years a Slave.” This is a tough role, demanding a range of emotions with little or no dialogue. Much of his perfor- mance is in reactions, particularly his eyes. Viewers can Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, and Chiwetel Ejiofor in ‘Twelve Years a Slave.’ read his thoughts, even see into Solomon’s soul as he must face one horror after another. The excellent supporting cast includes Michael Fass- bender and Benedict Cumberbatch as plantation owners of distinctly different temperaments, Paul Dano as a cruel overseer, Sarah Paulson as a jealous plantation wife, Alfre Woodard as a slave who has escaped the whip and made a comfortable place for herself as mistress to her owner, Paul Giamatti as a slave salesman, Lupita Nyong’o as the slave girl/mistress of a plantation owner, and Brad Pitt as a sympathetic carpenter. (continued on Crossword page)