A Closer Look.....

Last week, I delved into the film " American Hustle " as part of my run-up to the Oscars.



 This time , let's go on to ' 12 Years A Slave " .


 BE ADVISED : THE CONTENT OF THIS MOVIE IS RATHER INTENSE.

 However, it makes for how cinema was meant to be seen even experienced..

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  British director, Steve McQueen , shall awash you with the disheartening truth of the plight visited upon one man in the colonial history of the States.

 Solomon Northup  -  a free man of independent means and colour - in the mid 1800's gets shanghaied and made to succumb to an existence of UNIMAGINABLE distaste .

 An amateur yet accomplished musician, he takes into confidence two men who want him to perform at a few events at which they promote. After playing at one and as they celebrate its " success " with some merriment, his drink is drugged and upon awakening he finds himself chained and forced to accept his new lot in life !



 ( Although the film doesn't share the following fact )

 While on the ship that was spiriting him away from the life he knew, he managed to find an empathetic sailor who agreed to deliver a letter to his wife to explain the ungodly turn of events which unfurls before him.  NEITHER ONE ABLE TO FATHOM WHAT LIES IN STORE FOR HIM.

 Now to his credit ( ! ), Solomon never ceases to champion his lonely cause to regain freedom by means of stout genius and unbending heart. 

 And to mention even more as to how he persisted in keeping his SANITY whilst on his sojourn would be ideal at this point.
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 The movie will better tell the tale as to how he found it within himself to do so.

 
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  Next on the list - " Philomena ".



  The telling of how harrowed a care a young woman receives at the hands of Catholic nuns in '50's Ireland appalls me NO MIX .



  It takes off when , early in the film , the character - in her 70's  - meets a former British government advisor who takes upon himself to assist her to find a child she gave birth to out of wedlock before the age of 18.

 Her father ( due to the " morals " of the time ! ) places her in a nunnery.

( Such was the manner fitting for Da to deal with the family " shame ",you see ? )

The nuns, in turn .. when the boy is about three... , sell him to an American couple who wanted a child of their own.



Fast forward.


 He grows up to hold the position of chief legal counsel for the Republican National Committe in the 80's, which had to have been a bit much for his person considering............................. he was a closeted individual.

Though she tried hard in her search , even going so far as to make a trip to the States on her quest, our poor Philomena never meets him before he passes on from A.I.D.S.



  The film cleaves you in two over how people who take a vow of compassion for mankind can turn right 'round and ..just .. employ such means for the care of the unfortunate to be ( themselves ) ..... BAD NO HELL.




 How she comes to grip with it all shall floor you , be assured.

 The final resting place where she finds her son shall ASTOUND.


 For the Defining Moment,

 Gavin St.Clair