12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave is a powerful film based on the memoir by Solomon Northup published in 1853. The film has won 134 awards since its release, including Academy Awards for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Lupita Nyong’o), and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay). The film was the first Best Picture with a black director, although Steve McQueen did not win Best Director. 12 Years a Slave is raw and direct and, once you start watching, it’s hard to take your eyes away.
The story takes place in 1851 and centres on Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. The film starts with Solomon in a group of slaves, but flashes back to his free life: he had a wife and children, he was a sought-after violinist, he was happy. But he trusts the wrong people and is sold to Master Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch).
Ford is kind to Solomon but his favour does not mean anything to slave handler Tibeats, who picks on Solomon and eventually tries to beat him. But Solomon beats Tibeats instead, who in turn attempts to lynch Solomon. Solomon is eventually saved by another slave handler, Chapin, and Ford—who realizes he will not be able to protect Solomon forever and sells him to another master, Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender).
Epps is ruthless and beats slaves who do not meet their cotton picking quotas. While working on a gazebo for Epps, Solomon meets a paid Canadian worker named Bass (Brad Pitt) who is sympathetic to the slaves. Solomon tells Bass of his life as a free man and asks Bass to send a letter to those who could help free him again. Bass knows he would be sacrificing his life and freedom by sending such a letter…but on this action hangs the hope of Solomon’s rescue.
The film is a moving depiction of the lives of slaves and the precariousness of freedom. Solomon’s sufferings, especially those at the hands of his supposed friends, are a powerful reminder of the cruelty of humanity—but his perseverance and the help he receives from good people remind us that we can overcome evil and prevent it from happening again. 12 Years a Slave is brutally honest and at times graphic—but overall it is a great movie, and one that you will want to watch again and again. Go see it!
Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress
This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→
My Name is Bernadette
April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading→
Canonizing Sister Faustina and Divine Mercy
HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER MASS IN ST PETER’S SQUARE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF SR MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA Sunday, 30 April 2000 1. “Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius”; “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever” (Ps 118: 1). So the Church sings on the Octave of[…]Continue reading→
Divine Mercy Sunday – An Echo of Every Mass
Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe’… ‘My Lord and my God!’ (Jn. 20:18)). Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, and as we celebrate the end of the Easter Octave, we contemplate the wounded side of our Saviour, the Church’s source of life. On Good Friday in the[…]Continue reading→
First Holy Communion: Sermon from May 16, 1943
Here is a sermon from the good old days by +Rev. Msgr. Vincent Nicholas Foy (August 14, 1915 – March 13, 2017), from 1943. Readers may recall that Pope Saint Pius X, by the decree Quam Singulari in 1910, lowered the customary age of reception of Holy Communion – after the rigours of the plague[…]Continue reading→
In the Glorious Light of Easter, Alleluia!
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory (Col. 3:3-4). The Resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour[…]Continue reading→
An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday
The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→
Europe’s Long Descent
(As we meditate on this day on Christ’s burial, and His descent into hell, it is fitting to ponder here with contributor Peter Marcus how the world seems to be heading there as well. The difference is that, although God cannot ‘redeem’ hell, nor those therein, He can and did redeem the world. There is[…]Continue reading→
Pope Saint John Paul II’s First Good Friday Homily
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT THE COLOSSEUM Good Friday, 13 April 1979 When we make the Way of the Cross from one station to the next, in spirit we are always at the spot wherethis journey had its “historical” place: where it[…]Continue reading→