12 years a slave is a film based on a book written by a free black man who served some time as a slave. The movie, just like the book, is based on the time he served as a slave. With that, it seems pretty accurate to what being a slave was like. It does a good job at showing black history. Black people obviously didn't always have the rights in the States as they have today and this movie is about the time they literally had none, where they're nothing but mere objects in the eyes of white people. The movie really does a good job at showcasing black history. It definitely shows the brutality of slavery. Definitely a must see if you're interested in learning more black history. It's based on an autobiography, so it's definitely historically accurate. The acting is pretty good.