12 Years a Slave (2013)
In Steve McQueen's Best Picture-winning historical
dramatization based upon the account of a freed black who was returned
to slavery in the 1840s-50s:
- the devastating, torturous scene of the beating
of the bare back of black slave Patsey (Oscar-winning Lupita Nyong'o),
when cruel slave owner Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) forced another
slave, Platt/Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to whip her; at
first, Epps told Patsey: ("You done this to yourself, Pats"),
and then Mistress Epps (Sarah Paulson) spurred him on: ("Do
it. Strike the life from her"); not able to whip her himself,
Epps ordered Platt to take his place: ("Beat her. Give her
the whip! Give it all to her! Platt, you come here and you beat
her now. Platt! Come here!...You strike her. Strike her!");
but then, Mistress Epps complained that Platt wasn't striking her
hard enough: ("He pantomimes. There's barely a welt on her.
That's what your all niggers make of you... a fool for the takin');
Epps became angered and held a gun to Platt's head: ("Strike
her, Platt. Strike her! You will strike her. You will strike her
until her flesh is rent and meat and blood flow equal... or I will
kill every nigger in my sight. You understand me? Strike her! Strike
her! Until I say no more. I ain't said nothin'"); then, Epps
grabbed the whip and whipped Patsey himself, until she ceased struggling
and responding, and her back was terribly lacerated, literally
flayed, and the lash was wet with blood. Platt yelled out to Epps:
("Thou devil! Sooner or later, somewhere in the course of
eternal justice thou shalt answer for this sin!"). Epps replied:
("No sin! There is no sin! A man does how he pleases with
his property. At the moment, Platt, I am of great pleasure. You
be goddamn careful I don't come to wantin' to lightenin' my mood
no further")