12 Years a Slave is the incredible true story of Solomon Northrup (played admirably by Chiwetel Ejiofor ), a man who was tricked and sold into slavery. This is an incredibly well crafted film, with excellent acting from Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o (as well as other cast members). If anything can make you truly appreciate being born in the latter 20th century, instead of the 19th century, it is this.