I dig how you reasoned this out.

Let me simply suggest that, perhaps, rather than pitting these two - or any other two - movies in dichotomy, that we add all movies depicting slavery into a mosaic, with each one adding some dimension or vantage complementing others and building towards a bigger, total picture.

Both movies add something to the broader landscape, but all the movies ever made about slavery still won't capture all there is to say about the period.

I don't particularly want or need the humour to watch a story about an era that held very little that would be funny, yet I found Django Unchained's humour to be splendid - humane, subtle, nuanced, deftly handled by a master of his craft. At the same time, some might have been distracted by the humour, or disappointed it wasn't "funnier".

I have not yet seen 12 Years A Slave - once I have, I may revisit this thread.

@DRDMovieMusings said:

I dig how you reasoned this out.

Let me simply suggest that, perhaps, rather than pitting these two - or any other two - movies in dichotomy, that we add all movies depicting slavery into a mosaic, with each one adding some dimension or vantage complementing others and building towards a bigger, total picture.

Both movies add something to the broader landscape, but all the movies ever made about slavery still won't capture all there is to say about the period.

Oh, of course. Despite the failings of 12 Years a Slave it's still a good film with value to it's depiction and you should definitely check it out. I was comparing these two more specifically because they were both released around the same time and while 12YAS was commended as the respectable film, Tarantino was given flack for exploiting slavery for entertainment purposes. So I was pointing out that it was the entertainment version that got the vital message across here. I was also kind of challenging the notion that the respectable film always has more purpose than the entertainment film.

@mechajutaro said:

This or 12 Years a Slave? Which better articulates the horrors of slavery?

Roots tops them all. Neither 12YAS or Django had Kutekente

Don't you mean Kunta Kinte?

@mechajutaro said:

@bratface said:

@mechajutaro said:

This or 12 Years a Slave? Which better articulates the horrors of slavery?

Roots tops them all. Neither 12YAS or Django had Kutekente

Don't you mean Kunta Kinte?

That spelling invokes memories of Kinjite

And spelling it incorrectly doesn't?

@mechajutaro said:

This or 12 Years a Slave? Which better articulates the horrors of slavery?

Roots tops them all. Neither 12YAS or Django had Kutekente

What makes Kunte Kinte the difference-maker in favour of Roots?

@mechajutaro said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

@mechajutaro said:

This or 12 Years a Slave? Which better articulates the horrors of slavery?

Roots tops them all. Neither 12YAS or Django had Kutekente

What makes Kunte Kinte the difference-maker in favour of Roots?

As much as I loved Django, and as powerful a film as 12YAS is, it's doubtful that either widely quoted as

That scene you linked to reminded me of the seen in 12YAS where he is trying to explain that he is a free man and they beat him into saying that he was indeed a slave. Some really sick shit.

@movie_nazi said:

@mechajutaro said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

@mechajutaro said:

This or 12 Years a Slave? Which better articulates the horrors of slavery?

Roots tops them all. Neither 12YAS or Django had Kutekente

What makes Kunte Kinte the difference-maker in favour of Roots?

As much as I loved Django, and as powerful a film as 12YAS is, it's doubtful that either widely quoted as

That scene you linked to reminded me of the seen in 12YAS where he is trying to explain that he is a free man and they beat him into saying that he was indeed a slave. Some really sick shit.

Whether 12YAS took inspiration from Roots, or both are inspired by some true anecdote, the takeaway, for me, is the concept that slave master mentality requires imposing fantasy over reality and truth with violence. Whenever society, up to today, attempts to contend the white supremacist fantasy narratives with truth, it's too often met with violence. Both movies depict this with their respective approaches and, together, they paint a vivid picture that's easy to recognize as vile and revolting.

The institution of slavery itself in America may no longer be happening, but don't kid yourself, the "really sick shit" is not the method, it's the mentality, and it not only remains, but is thriving. Too many people take simplistic consolation that "that's not happening anymore" and fail to recognize what is still happening. It's stupid obvious that whipping someone is horrid, that's easy to recognize; but now that the mentality has produced new methods that take a little brain power to decipher, it can be successful as long as we're fighting about whether there yet remains really sick shit going on out there under the banner of white supremacy that's not so stupid obvious.

@DRDMovieMusings said: .

The institution of slavery itself in America may no longer be happening, but don't kid yourself, the "really sick shit" is not the method, it's the mentality, and it not only remains, but is thriving. Too many people take simplistic consolation that "that's not happening anymore" and fail to recognize what is still happening. It's stupid obvious that whipping someone is horrid, that's easy to recognize; but now that the mentality has produced new methods that take a little brain power to decipher, it can be successful as long as we're fighting about whether there yet remains really sick shit going on out there under the banner of white supremacy that's not so stupid obvious.

I also think this is why there is such revulsion with that is called "critical race theory" because they are afraid that it will reveal exactly what you have have expressed which is the mentality is still very much alive. It is deeply engrained in our system and although we have made huge strides, we still have a ways to go IMO. I live in the deep south so I anecdotally witness it quite often.

@movie_nazi said:

@DRDMovieMusings said: .

The institution of slavery itself in America may no longer be happening, but don't kid yourself, the "really sick shit" is not the method, it's the mentality, and it not only remains, but is thriving. Too many people take simplistic consolation that "that's not happening anymore" and fail to recognize what is still happening. It's stupid obvious that whipping someone is horrid, that's easy to recognize; but now that the mentality has produced new methods that take a little brain power to decipher, it can be successful as long as we're fighting about whether there yet remains really sick shit going on out there under the banner of white supremacy that's not so stupid obvious.

I also think this is why there is such revulsion with that is called "critical race theory" because they are afraid that it will reveal exactly what you have have expressed which is the mentality is still very much alive. It is deeply engrained in our system and although we have made huge strides, we still have a ways to go IMO. I live in the deep south so I anecdotally witness it quite often.

You nailed it, mate.

Django, easily.