Paraphasing 12 Years a Slave Review

Of course the language and violence in 12 Years a Slave makes you wince, but the brutality here is as sleek as a knitting needle, and slips between your ribs to get at you somewhere deep, beyond simple expressions of disgust or disbelief. McQueen has no intention of turning his film into a Western liberal guilt-trip — he doesn’t have to. What we see speaks for itself. The entire nation, south and north alike, is in the grip of communal insanity. Original Article

This review of 12 Years a Slave written by Robbie Collin states that the film paints a gritty realistic picture of what African American slavery was like in the South. The film does this not only through dialogue, but also through some of its over the top scenes. Director Stevie McQueen gives weight to scenes by forcing the viewer to watch each brutal scene for just a little longer than they're comfortable with. It showcases that both the North and the South in states of chaos, and that it is rough all over.