History Film / TwelveYearsASlave

* DrivenToSuicide: Patsy at one point tries to pay Solomon to strangle her, because she can't bear her horrible life any longer.

* MalignedMixedMarriage: The Shaws. Mr. Shaw married his kept slave after the death of his wife, and now Mrs. Shaw invites slaves from other plantations over to tea, which simply outrages the neighbors.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Solomon ''finally'' manages to get word to his friends in the North via Bass, and they come to rescue him and bring him home to his family - but nonetheless the pain of those lost twelve years still hits hard, and moreover Patsy and millions like her are still enslaved.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Solomon ''finally'' manages to get word to his friends in the North via Bass, and they come to rescue him and bring him home to his family - but nonetheless the pain of those lost twelve years still hits hard, and moreover Patsey and millions like her are still enslaved.]]

A memoir by Solomon Northrup, and later a film by filmmaker Steve [=McQueen=].

Solomon Northrup is a violinist in Saratoga, New York in 1841. He's a loving husband, a devoted father, a respected man of his community -- and a free-born black man. One day, two men calling themselves Hamilton and Brown entice Solomon to come with them on a tour of cities and counties further south, where Solomon would play for circuses and concert audiences, and win plenty of money, if he only just kept going South. A little further South. And in Washington D.C....

A memoir by Solomon Northrp, and later a film by filmmaker Steve [=McQueen=].

A memoir by Solomon Northrp, and later a film by filmmaker Steve [=McQueen=]. Solomon Northrup is a violinist in Saratoga, New York in the mid-nineteenth century. He's a loving husband, a devoted father, a respected man of his community -- and a free-born black man. One day, in 1841, two men calling themselves Hamilton and Brown entice Solomon to come with them on a tour of cities and counties further south, where Solomon would play for circuses and concert audiences, and win plenty of money, if he only just kept going South. A little further South. And in Washington D.C....

In Washington D.C., Solomon wakes up with chains around his ankles and wrists, and is told that his life is no longer his own. He is now "Platt" -- nothing but a Georgia runaway slave.

''Twelve Years a Slave'' was released across the United States in October of 2013. It has received rave reviews, including commendation for its unrelenting, yet straightforward portrayal of slavery, and the astounding performances of its cast, including English actor Chiwetel Ejiofor as the noble Solomon Northup, and MichaelFassbender's turn as the unhinged sadist, Master Edwin Epps.

* Can'tHoldHisLiquor: Mr. Epps often gets dangerously, deliriously drunk

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** His wife procides a straighter example. When she sees Eliza weeping desperately at the loss of her children, she pities her, and says "Have some food and rest. [[BlatantLies Your children will soon be forgotten.]]"

A memoir by Solomon Northrp, and later a film by filmmaker Steve [=McQueen=]. Solomon Northrup is a violinist in Saratoga, New York in the mid-nineteenth century. He's a loving husband, a devoted father, a respected man of his community -- and a free-born black. One day, in 1841, two men calling themselves Hamilton and Brown entice Solomon to come with them on a tour of cities and counties further south, where Solomon would play for circuses and concert audiences, and win plenty of money, if he only just kept going South. A little further South. And in Washington D.C....

''Twelve Years a Slave'' was released across the United States in October of 2013. It has received rave reviews, including commendation for its unrelenting, yet straightforward portrayal of slavery, and the astounding performances of its cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, a Nigerian actor, as the noble Solomon Northup, and MichaelFassbender's turn as the unhinged sadist, Master Edwin Epps.

A memoir by Solomon Northrup, and later a film by filmmaker Steve [=McQueen=]. Solomon Northrup is a violinist in Saratoga, New York in the mid-nineteenth century. He's a loving husband, a devoted father, a respected man of his community -- and a free-born black. One day, in 1841, two men calling themselves Hamilton and Brown entice Solomon to come with them on a tour of cities and counties further south, where Solomon would play for circuses and concert audiences, and win plenty of money, if he only just kept going South. A little further South. And in Washington D.C....

''Twelve Years a Slave'' was released across the United States in October of 2013. It has received rave reviews, including commendation for its unrelenting, yet straightforward portrayal of slavery, and the astounding performances of its cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, a Nigerian actor, as the noble Solomon Northrup, and MichaelFassbender's turn as the unhinged sadist, Master Edwin Epps.

A memoir by Solomon Northup, and later a film by filmmaker Steve [=McQueen=]. Solomon Northup is a violinist in Saratoga, New York in the mid-nineteenth century. He's a loving husband, a devoted father, a respected man of his community -- and a free-born black. One day, in 1841, two men calling themselves Hamilton and Brown entice Solomon to come with them on a tour of cities and counties further south, where Solomon would play for circuses and concert audiences, and win plenty of money, if he only just kept going South. A little further South. And in Washington D.C....

In Washington D.C., Solomon Northup wakes up with chains around his ankles and wrists, and is told that his life is no longer his own. He is now "Platt" -- nothing but a Georgia runaway slave.

''Twelve Years a Slave'' was released across the United States in October of 2013. It has received rave reviews, including commendation for its unrelenting, yet straightforward portrayal of slavery, and the astounding performances of its cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, a Nigerian actor, as the noble Solomon Northup, and MichaelFassbender's turn as the unhinged sadist, Master Edwin Epps.

! Tropes Found in this Work Include:

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* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: We see slaves on the Epps' plantation quietly working together as the screams of fellow slaves being whipped fills the air.

''Twelve Years a Slave'' was released across the United States in October of 2013. It has received rave reviews, including commendation for its unrelenting, yet straightforward portrayal of slavery, and the astounding performances of its cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, a Nigerian actor, as the noble Solomon Northup, and Creator/MichaelFassbender's turn as the unhinged sadist, Master Edwin Epps.

A memoir, and later a film by filmmaker Steve [=McQueen=]. Solomon Northup is a violinist in Saratoga, New York in the mid-nineteenth century. He's a loving husband, a devoted father, a respected man of his community -- and a free-born black. One day, in 1841, two men calling themselves Hamilton and Brown entice Solomon to come with them on a tour of cities and counties further south, where Solomon would play for circuses and concert audiences, and win plenty of money, if he only just kept going South. A little further South. And in Washington D.C....

* ButNotTooBlack: Averted. The black people in this movie range from very light to very dark, with Patsy, who is lauded (and hated) for her beauty having skin nearly ebony-black.