12 Years a Slave (2013)

12 Years a Slave (2013) is a harrowing historical drama based on Solomon Northup's 1853 memoir, chronicling his kidnapping and enslavement in the pre-Civil War South. Directed by Steve McQueen, the film won three Oscars including Best Picture, with Lupita Nyong'o earning Best Supporting Actress for her devastating performance. Chiwetel Ejiofor's portrayal of Northup's resilience and brutality he endured offers an unflinching look at slavery's inhumanity. Praised for its historical accuracy and emotional power, the film's unrelenting honesty forces viewers to confront America's darkest chapter, making it one of cinema's most important works on racial injustice.