I just watched 12 Years a Slave for the first time. It was a very good movie, sometimes hard to watch but I really enjoyed it. I didn't quite understand Benedict Cumberbatch's character. I know he was the plantation owner, so in the context of the movie he would control the plantation and what happens. Paul Dano was an overseer along with another guy from what I gather.
I don't understand two things. The scene where Solomon is fighting with Tibeats, the other overseer comes and stops it basically. He mentions something to Solomon about he can't protect him if he leaves. Then Tibeats and two other guys take Solomon and put a rope around him and start to hang him. The other overseer comes by and threatens them with a gun but lives Solomon/Platt just enough room to live by using his toes to walk around. This whole scene confuses me.
I thought this other overseer was going to protect him, but left him to basically die. Why would he threaten Paul Dano's character? The other question is Benedict Cumberbatch is the plantation owner, but allows this to happen and then cuts him down. It doesn't make sense, if it's his plantation his rule is law. Why would he allow this to happen and then cut him down? This also contradicts Solomon Northup's own account in his book about him being the most Christian and decent man he ever met. Does anyone have perspective on this?
Submitted December 31, 2017 at 12:50PM by TheGame81677 http://ift.tt/2Elie8J