Edwin epps ancestors2/28/2024 ![]() The film will have a limited release today, and a national release on Friday, Nov. ![]() Actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt and Alfre Woodard also take on roles in the film. “12 Years A Slave” stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northup, Michael Fassbender as plantation owner Edwin Epps and Lupita Nyong’o as Patsey, a slave on Epps’ plantation. “You were there with every single one of those characters,” Mrs. Cooper said it was better without one because it kept the audience involved. The film runs for 133 minutes, and although it was a long film to watch from beginning to end without an intermission, Mrs. If you’d read the book before seeing the film, you know its true and that it’s been authenticated, but then you see it with a fresh pair of eyes – it gave me a new appreciation and left me amazed.” “You can almost follow the book along while watching the film. “It’s been a few years since I read the book, but I didn’t forget it because it had quite an impact on me,” Mrs. Cooper, the film was quite similar to the book, “Twelve Years A Slave,” but a few things had been left out. “He was a free man, and no matter what he was not going to succumb to that pressure,” Cooper said.Īccording to Mrs. But, Northup, who was born a free man, was determined to survive his experience and fight for abolition of slavery. “12 Years A Slave” is an adaptation Northup’s autobiography “Twelve Years A Slave,” which tells the story of his kidnapping and 12-year bondage as a slave in Louisiana before the Civil War. “There is nothing that shows what this movie shows – it’s very graphic.” And, I think it would be eye-opening for the younger generation who doesn’t know what happened back then.” “But, I felt good about it because if you look in the history books there’s nothing about him (Solomon Northup). “There were several scenes in the film that made me want to get up and walk out,” Cooper said. In the article Coyle stated, “There have, of course, been a handful of notable films about slavery, (“Beloved,” “Amistad,” the miniseries “Roots”), but, it’s safe to say, never before has there been a movie like this.”Īccording to Cooper, Coyle’s point was spot-on because “12 Years A Slave” was unlike any film he had seen before about slavery. He also spent 18 months in Saudi Arabia working with King Faisal’s Navy.īefore seeing the film, Cooper had already read the book, and attended events such as Solomon Northup Day in Saratoga Springs where clips of the film were shown and he had the opportunity to meet Lupita Nyong’o, who starred in the film as Patsey, a plantation slave.Ĭooper had also read an Associated Press article about “12 Years A Slave” by entertainment writer Jake Coyle that was published in The Post-Journal in September. The experience improved him as a person, and gave him a better perspective of the United States and its role as “big brother,” he said. ![]() Cooper’s time as a serviceman brought him to places such as Thailand and Spain. Many years before Cooper met Wanda and moved to Jamestown, he spent 12 years in the Air Force from 1968-1980. While living in Jamestown, Cooper worked with youth at the Gustavus Adolphus Children’s Home, and those living with traumatic brain injury at The Resource Center. The screening was held at The Little Theatre of Rochester.Ĭooper, 66, is originally from Ithaca, and moved to Jamestown more than a decade ago. Six years later, “12 Years A Slave” was created, and Cooper was invited to a screening of the film that was exclusively held for descendants of Northup and their families. He also recently found out that he has a connection to Elizabeth Cady Stanton.Īfter Cooper found out about the relation, he began attending Solomon Northup Day in Saratoga Springs. Cooper’s relation to Solomon Northup was confirmed by historian David Fiske, who took part in authoring “Solomon Northup: The Complete Story of the Author of Twelve Years a Slave.”Īccording to Cooper, it was found that he is a descendant of Northup as well as Harriet Tubman because Alonzo Northup, Solomon’s son, married one of Tubman’s great-nieces. They were invited to see the film before it was released in theaters because Cooper is a descendant of Solomon Northup, the author of the book the film is based upon.Ĭooper said he recalls talks of his ancestry in his youth, but never anything solid – until six years ago. Adrian Cooper and his wife, Wanda, of Jamestown, recently attended an exclusive advance screening of “12 Years A Slave,” a Fox Searchlight Pictures film directed by Steve McQueen, in Rochester.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |