12 Years A Slave/Violet Crown

Steve McQueen's film is a harrowing and painful viewing experience.  The performances by so many of the actors are gut wrenching and truthful.  A special shout out to Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o for their extraordinary work. The sadism of the slave owners and their slave masters is sometimes too difficult to watch so I covered my eyes and wept.  The beatings, the forced separations, the indignities, the cruelty to people is almost unbearable to take in.  This is what makes a great dramatic film.  This hammered my heart.