12 Years a Slave · written by John Ridley and Steve McQueen · 2013

The view pulls from Solomon’s barred cell across Washington’s government buildings, contrasting his captivity with the nation’s symbols of freedom.

Scene 33 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 23 min into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 33

After being kidnapped from New York and sold into slavery, Solomon Northup uses his skills and carefully placed trust to survive and seek a way back to his family.

Scenes 1–29
Solomon lives freely in Saratoga as a husband, father, worker, and musician.
Just before
Scene 30
Three men enter Solomon’s room and carry off the weakened, feverish man while he cannot resist.
Scene 31
Solomon wakes chained in a dark cell, struggles against his restraints until exhausted, then collapses.
Scene 32
Burch rejects Solomon’s claim to freedom and beats and whips him until he is bloodied; Radburn warns that resistance will bring worse, but Solomon keeps calling for help.
Scene 33
This scene

33EXT. BURCH'S DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS

Beginning with a TIGHT SHOT on the shuttered, barred window of Burch's dungeon - Solomon's cries barely eking beyond the space - THE CAMERA PULLS BACK from the building, onto the city until clearly visible is the Nation's capital. It's icon's of freedom - the WHITE HOUSE, the CAPITAL BUILDING - fairly mocking Solomon's captivity.