12 Years a Slave featurette - The Director's Vision

3:50 | Uploaded on Mar 04, 2014

The cast and crew of 12 Years a Slave discuss director Steve McQueen's vision for the film, based on the book by Solomon Northup.

In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life.

12 Years a Slave is the 2014 Academy Awards Best Picture winner, and is out now on Blu-ray and DVD.