Celebrating Impact: Sir Steve McQueen

I had not heard of Steve McQueen until 2013, yet he had been making waves and establishing his presence at least 20 years before that! But entirely typical of the invisibility of British minorities and their achievement, though he actually WON the Turner Prize for art in 1999, the media focused on another White nominee instead!

The reason why he entered my consciousness related to his thought-provoking film, 12 Years A Slave, which he successfully directed. At first I thought, 'Oh, no, not another film about slavery!' But the presentation, style and narrative told a very different kind of story.

12 Years a Slave, an American historical drama written by John Ridley, was based on the 1853 memoir of the same name by Solomon Northup, a free Black man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., in 1841, and sold into slavery in the Deep South. He was held captive for twelve years before regaining his freedom. According to The Atlantic, the film is a "powerful and unflinching look at the horrors of slavery in the American South", of one man's journey through slavery and his eventual triumph, a testament to the human spirit. It is not so easy to watch, but its images have stayed with me ever since I saw it. Even now I cannot help marvelling at the realistic presentation of some of the harrowing scenes.

Visually stunning, McQueen's direction created a sense of immediacy and intimacy, sometimes making the viewers feel they were eavesdropping on something interesting, but uncomfortable, yet unable to leave the scene. Chiwetel Ejiofor, who played the lead as Solomon Northup, gave a tour-de-force performance, "capturing his strength, dignity, and resilience in the face of unspeakable cruelty". The film had British and American stars to appeal to both audiences, including Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lupita Nyong'o, Brad Pitt, and Alfre Woodard, among other big names, who played supporting roles.

12 Years A Slave was met with critical acclaim, and commercial success upon its release, grossing over $187 million worldwide - the highest-grossing film directed by a Black filmmaker. Nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for Ejiofor, it won three of them: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Nyong'o, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Personal Life

Sir Steve Rodney McQueen, a film director, producer, screenwriter, and video artist, was born in London, in October 1969, to Grenadian and Trinidadian parents. He studied art at Chelsea College of Art and Design and Goldsmiths College, where he developed an interest in film. After graduating, he began making short films which explored the themes of race, identity, and masculinity. His first feature film released in 2008, was called Hunger: a biopic about Bobby Sands, an Irish republican who died on hunger strike in prison. It tapped into the complexity of the Irish problems which impacted England at the time, establishing McQueen as one of the most important new filmmakers of his generation.

McQueen's next feature film, Shame (2011), an unflinching portrayal of a sex addict, earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Director. This was followed by 12 Years A Slave two years later, which put him on the global map. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2020 for his services to films, McQueen is known for dealing with complex and challenging subject matters. These films have not only won him numerous awards for his work, but they have also raised him head and shoulders above other British directors, making him the very first Black Briton in the industry to achieve the kind of success and acclaim he is enjoying.

McQueen's other main feature films include Widows (2018) - a crime thriller about four widows who decide to pull off a heist that their husbands were planning before they were killed, and the universally acclaimed Small Axe, a five-part, very moving television anthology series that explores the experiences of the West Indian immigrant community in London during a time of great social and political change, from the 1960s to the 1980s. Each film tells a distinct story about the lives and personal struggles of those early years, with outstanding performances from the cast - especially John Boyega, who, in Red White And Royal Blue, played the leading role of an idealistic young Black policeman (Leroy Logan) attempting to change the service from within in

Small Axe showed off McQueen's talent to the full, winning him numerous awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries, and the British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) for Best Mini-Series.

One of the most acclaimed and respected filmmakers working today, Steve McQueen has created lots of opportunities for diverse actors, especially minorities, allowing them to showcase their skills and gain some visibility. He is known for his masterful filmmaking skills, his commitment to social justice, and his ability to tell stories that are not only entertaining, but even uncomfortable and thought-provoking. He is an amazing, hard-working role model who has unvoubtedly raised the Black expeience almost to an art form.

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