h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

First off, you can read our Awix's review of '12 Years a Slave' at A87821625. While I agree with our h2g2 film critic – the subject matter is depressing – I don't agree that it's a reason not to watch this excellent film. We just did – the cable company owed us a free movie – and frankly, I'm amazed at its quality.

I'd been afraid Solomon Northup's true story would fall victim to dramatic exploitation. Instead, they've done a beautiful job of putting you there, and letting the story tell itself. In its own words, too. The actors talk like people in the 1840s, not the 21st Century. And the story line is true to the book. I'll tell you a bit about the book in a minute.

First, a quibble: I found one glaring inaccuracy in that film. It occurs early on. A small girl is jumping up and down on a hotel bed. In 1841. Please. The bed spring was invented in 1883. I kept waiting for the rope to break. Also, there is precious little bounce in a feather bed. Trust me on this, I have experimentally determined this fact.

That aside, the film was made on a real Louisiana plantation. Mr Benedict Cumberbatch's Southern Midlands accent is spot-on. Praise to him for NOT attempting Gulf Southern. I was born with the plague of Gulf Southern, but got better. No European should attempt the jaw-breaking feat.

The main actors are just mind-blowingly superb. Verdict? A must-see film.

Okay, you say, but why watch it? That historical crime was so long ago. It does not affect us. I beg to differ. The economic crime of slavery destroyed the lives of millions. It destroyed the souls of the perpetrators. Like the Holocaust, it is a shameful part of our shared human history that we need to understand, if we are truly to say, 'Never again' – and mean it.

Now, if you want to see the film, get thee to the cinema, or DVD store, or your cable company's 'on demand' list.

If you want to read Solomon Northup's book, it won't cost you a red cent. Go here:

http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/northup/northup.html

You want to turn the virtual pages? Use archive.org:

http://archive.org/details/twelveyearsasla01nortgoog

Would you like more eyewitness testimony to slavery? Try the WPA slave narratives from the 1930s:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/snhtml/snhome.html

Click through those pages of interviews lovingly compiled by underemployed writers during the Great Depression. Their boss, pioneer folklorist John Lomax, told them not to censor or edit. The past speaks to us here. There are photos, too.


One of my favourites is Sarah Gudger, 121 at the time of interview. (And yes, they checked.) Ms Gudger remembered a meteor shower from 1833. What a story.

So watch, read, or browse online, but check out the story. Mr Northup bravely shared a harrowing experience with us all. We owe it to him to let him speak to us across the centuries. What an amazing man.



PS Oh, and if you want more information on Benedict Cumberbatch's slaveholding ancestors, look here:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/02/benedict-cumberbatch-sorry-for-slave-owners-family

I definitely want to watch this film - for once a film that really deserved the awards.

It still matters a great deal to very many people. It was interesting to see that Cumberbatch has a relative (through slavery not blood) in New York which proves that the subject still resonates deeply.

It was strange, because just before I heard about the film initially I had re-read Alex Hailey's 'Roots'. I watched the TV series years ago and wondered why they hadn't made a film of it, I think it would be good, either that or a re-make of the TV series. After all we know much more about it now than w did then.

Personally I think everyone should watch it even more so as modern day slavery is on the rise.

Thanks for drawing it to our attention

Websailor

Thanks, Webbie.

Alex Haley: great writer, too.

And good on Cumbebatch for taking on this piece of his family's history.

I say this to lots of friends and folk - I'm proud to be a Yorkshireman, but I hate being called English. As I hate what this country did to many civilisations during time of the British "conquest" of the world

I find the topic sort of horrifying. Chattel slavery is the absolute worse form of slavery, unless of course there turns out to be another form of slavery that's even worse. And if there is, please, please, please break it to me very slowly. Seriously the only thing that could be worse is growing people in vats so their organs can be harvested. (Okay I read too much scifi.)

I do want to see the movie, because of the story, the actors, the acclaim, but probably on the small screen so I can take breaks.

I hear you, HN. And you're right - it's a terrible history.

>One of my favourites is Sarah Gudger, 121 at the time of interview. (And yes, they checked.) Ms Gudger remembered a meteor shower from 1833. What a story.

I remember stumbling upon this story a few years, although I'm not sure where. http://www.angelfire.com/ar/freedmen/stars.html

If it came from one your links please forgive me, but I have seen several references to this event in period documents.



F S

That sounds like a different story about the same event. How It must have made a big impression on people.

"I would rather die a free man than live as a slave"

seems there are quite a few variations of this, but I can't find "who" actually said it (also various accounts)

I don't know, but if anybody's interested, Olaudah Equiano - who also wrote a great book about his experiences - tells of Africans who jumped overboard from slave ships:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15399/15399-h/15399-h.htm

I listened to the audiobook. Now that you said the film is true to the book I'm going to watch it--although it'll be hard, knowing it isn't fiction but happened to so many people.

It's worth it, Bel. The actors are amazing.

And thanks for letting us know that there's an audiobook version, too.

I listen to lots of audiobooks. It's so nice while doing boring things like housework. It makes the chores worth while.