The awards and accolades continue to pile up for ’12 Years a Slave’, which won the People’s Choice Audience award from the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, Deadline.com reports.
’12 Years a Slave’ debuted at Telluride Film Festival, and is already generating talk of Oscar nominations, despite earning the rep of being “too difficult” to sit through.
The Fox Searchlight Film is based on the true story of a free black man from upstate NY, Solomon Northup, who is abducted and sold into slavery. In his 12th year of slavery, Northrup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) has long been forgotten by the wife and children he left behind.
The film is directed by Steve McQueen, and stars Brad Pitt, Ejiofor (top right), Michael Fassbender, newcomer Lupita Nyong’o (above and top left), and Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis (top center).
One harrowing scene featuring Nyong’o had some film goers covering their eyes and bolting for the exits due to the cruelty depicted on the screen.
A slave owner (Fassbender) whips his house slave (Nyong’o) until her back is flayed to the flesh.
Then, when his arms tire, he hands the whip to his slave (Ejiofor) to finish the job.
’12 Years a Slave’ opens in limited release in select theaters on October 18.
