Excuse the hyperbole but as I reach my 28th year one could argue these previous 27 years have been fraught with an unstable insecurity, enraptured by societal norms that I am in some form enslaved to. I in no way mean to offend any skin colour, gender or other denomination but as slavery is the zeitgeist of the moment, I awkwardly struggle to deal with the complexities of our past & my reaction to it's current prominence.
The hero of the hour is '12 Years a Slave'. Controversially I didn't enjoy this film. I suppose many would say they did not 'enjoy' their time in the cinema but left both traumatised by slavery and enthralled by the beauty of the cinematography, direction and Ejiofor's portrayal. We see the devastation and legacy of slavery in the undertones of our every day life, and I can safely say that the concept of slavery was already abhorrent to me, so no; this film did not move me. This film did not teach me. This film did not change me.
As the film industry congratulates itself for embracing slavery this year I question what this film actually achieves in evolving perceptions. I don't berate Steve Mcqueen for creating 12 years and of course Solomon's story is a real one, but in one spectacularly orchestrated Hollywood tidal wave, have we ticked this political & racial genre for years to come with nothing to be mentioned once the suits are tailored and the Oscars are handed out? Whilst everyone raves about this months 'Vanity Fair' cover- is this the new norm or (literally) a black spot on a pale canvas. In theory I could accept '12 years a white supremacist' or '12 years a misogynist'; I believe that the storyteller has the right to make any choice they please but it is in our reaction and longevity of this response, we truly see where our standards and morals lie. This 'sensational', 'unforgettable' film that has flooded social media forums with protestations of insomnia and life altering affirmations, in truth has had little active effect on the general public or media. I may be naive but I genuinely believe that art has the power to change and improve our lives therefore it must promote new, and more importantly continuing discussion. Is it not true that most viewers were overwhelmed by the idea of the looming subject matter, rather than the machinations behind it? Before I walked in I knew the premise of the film and 3 hours later I understood little more. Show me a woman being whipped on her naked back and I will show you tears, this does not necessarily equate to a great film. I found myself preoccupied with thoughts of the other slaves and black folk contemporaneous to Northup and less drawn to Chiwetels' stoic portrayal, however so much attention is focussed on one extraordinary man. Again I understand that is a true tale but similarly to 'Django Unchained', I can't help but feel uncomfortable with the singular distinction.
In 2002, the 'landmark' black year at The Oscars, Berry proclaimed 'Tonight the glass ceiling was broken and I hope that this ceiling is shattered forever' yet it seems it was a temporary chip! Little has changed for women of colour in the industry and particularly for those with a darker skin tone. Lupita Nyong's performance as Patsy was extraordinary but she stands on a very small (and hard to find) island. This is a whole other discussion but highlights our ability to dismiss once the applause has died down.
