Filled with emotion, shock, and horror, 12 Years a Slave gives a gritty yet powerful portrayal of a brutal time in pre-Civil War America, a time that saw the suffering of so many. The acting and directing are easily the best parts of the film, every actor and actress shined and did their part well. Some scenes in this movie are so hard to watch, yet so well-crafted, and one final tear-jerking scene bring it all home to make it a defining movie!