“12 Years a Slave”, 2013
Director: Steve McQueen
Based on Solomon Northup’s memoir, this film recounts the true story of Northup, a free black man from New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South, where he struggled for survival and dignity for 12 years.
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, Sarah Paulson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Alfre Woodard, Adepero Oduye;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
“Django Unchained”, 2012
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Directed by Quentin Tarantino, this film blends spaghetti western and blaxploitation genres to tell the story of Django, a freed slave who teams up with a bounty hunter to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner.
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, Dennis Christopher, James Remar, Don Johnson, Laura Cayouette;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: western, action, drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 165 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
More information about the film “Django Unchained” on the website imdb.com
“Amistad”, 1997
Director: Steven Spielberg
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this film is based on a true story about the revolt of Mende captives aboard a Spanish owned ship, leading to a critical United States Supreme Court case.
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey, David Paymer, Pete Postlethwaite, Stellan Skarsgård, Razaaq Adoti, Abu Bakaar Fofanah;
Production year: 1997;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 155 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Amistad” on the website imdb.com
“Glory”, 1989
Director: Edward Zwick
This film follows the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the Union Army's first all-black units, during the Civil War and showcases their valiant battle preparations and contributions.
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, Jihmi Kennedy, Andre Braugher, John Finn, Donovan Leitch Jr., JD Cullum, Alan North;
Production year: 1989;
Genre: war, biography, history, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 122 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Glory” on the website imdb.com
“The Birth of a Nation”, 1915
Director: D.W. Griffith
Not to be confused with the 1915 film of the same name, this film tells the story of Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher who led a slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831.
Starring: Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Mary Alden, Ralph Lewis, George Siegmann, Walter Long, Robert Harron, Wallace Reid;
Production year: 1915;
Genre: drama, war, history;
Age: 0+;
Duration: 187 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,1;
More information about the film “The Birth of a Nation” on the website imdb.com
“Harriet”, 2019
Director: Kasi Lemmons
This biographical film follows the life of Harriet Tubman, focusing on her escape from slavery and her missions to rescue other enslaved people using the Underground Railroad.
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, Clarke Peters, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Jennifer Nettles, Janelle Monae, Tory Kittles, Omar J. Dorsey;
Production year: 2019;
Genre: biography, history, drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 125 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
More information about the film “Harriet” on the website imdb.com
“Beloved”, 1998
Director: Jonathan Demme
Based on Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the film explores the haunting legacy of slavery and its psychological impact on a freed slave woman and her family in the post-Civil War era.
Starring: Yada Beener, Emil Pinnock, Calen Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, Beah Richards, Danny Glover, Kimberly Elise, Jude Ciccolella, Kessia Embry, Dashiell Eaves;
Production year: 1998;
Genre: horror, drama, detective, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 172 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6;
More information about the film “Beloved” on the website imdb.com
These films offer varying perspectives and insights into American slavery's complex and painful history, providing both education and reflection on this significant and formative part of America's past.
In conclusion, films about American slavery are a vital and poignant part of cinematic history, offering viewers a window into the darkest chapters of human existence. They challenge audiences to confront the grim realities of suffering, oppression, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. Whether through the raw authenticity of “12 Years a Slave,” the daring rebellion depicted in “Amistad,” or the more contemporary reflections of racial wounds in “Django Unchained,” these cinematic works serve not only as historical records but as catalysts for necessary conversations on race, justice, and reconciliation. As an art form, these films transcend mere storytelling; they are a call to never forget the past and to continue striving for a future where liberty and equality are not just ideals, but realities for all.
