CCTV9英语新闻：Steve McQueen discusses diversity in "12 Years a Slave"
时间：2019-02-18 作者：英语课 分类：CCTV9英语新闻2014年01月
As we enter 2014, award season is just around the corner. Director Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" is definitely one of the front-runners.
"12 Years a Slave" is based on the 1853 memoir 1 of Solomon Northup, a free man kidnapped and sold into slavery. The harrowing historical epic 2 has not only garnered 3 considerable critical praise, it has also sparked a discussion about diversity in film.
"Slavery lasted 400 years and how many movies have been made about slavery? You know maybe, I was told by historians less than 20 movies about American slavery have been made," McQueen said.
"The Second World War lasted five years and hundreds and hundreds of movies have been made about the Second World War and the Holocaust 4. So just putting that in perspective I think there has been more films about Spartacus and Roman slavery than that has actually been about, you know, slavery."
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Northup in Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave".
However, McQueen is adamant 5 that he didn's choose the story as a way to promote diversity on the silver screen.
"It's a good time period I mean, you know, period. I never really see people in that sense...again I just want equal opportunity for everyone so therefore if there're more black people in films, then great," he said. "I want more women directors for example, so it's just a case of having a situation where it's much more of a real reflection of the world, that's all."
British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Northup, a violinist taken from his family and put into servitude on plantations 6, all the while unable to contact his home or even proclaim his true identity. He agrees with the director that all stories have their own intrinsic value, and have the right to be told.
"I think as many different films as possible are terrific. I don's think that one cancels out the other. As soon as I read Solomon's story I felt like I couldn't believe I didn't know about this story and I thought it was one of the most exceptional stories, one of the most amazing stories I ever read anywhere about anything, so I was thrilled and excited to tell the story," Ejiofor said.
"12 Years a Slave" has been screened at various film festivals in 2013, and is set to be released in the UK and Ireland on Friday.
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收听单词发音 1
memoir
n.[pl.]回忆录，自传；记事录
参考例句：
He has just published a memoir in honour of his captain.他刚刚出了一本传记来纪念他的队长。
In her memoir,the actress wrote about the bittersweet memories of her first love.在那个女演员的自传中，她写到了自己苦乐掺半的初恋。
2
epic
n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的
参考例句：
I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。
3
garnered
v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Mr. Smith gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert. 史密斯先生逐渐赢得全国金融专家的声誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
He has garnered extensive support for his proposals. 他的提议得到了广泛的支持。 来自辞典例句
4
holocaust
n.大破坏；大屠杀
参考例句：
The Auschwitz concentration camp always remind the world of the holocaust.奥辛威茨集中营总是让世人想起大屠杀。
Ahmadinejad is denying the holocaust because he's as brutal as Hitler was.内贾德否认大屠杀，因为他像希特勒一样残忍。
5
adamant
adj.坚硬的，固执的
参考例句：
We are adamant on the building of a well-off society.在建设小康社会这一点上，我们是坚定不移的。
Veronica was quite adamant that they should stay on.维罗妮卡坚信他们必须继续留下去。
6
plantations
n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Soon great plantations, supported by slave labor, made some families very wealthy. 不久之后出现了依靠奴隶劳动的大庄园，使一些家庭成了富豪。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were deserted. 维恩特波恩的合同完成后，那片林地变得荒废了。 来自辞典例句
- He has just published a memoir in honour of his captain.他刚刚出了一本传记来纪念他的队长。
- In her memoir,the actress wrote about the bittersweet memories of her first love.在那个女演员的自传中，她写到了自己苦乐掺半的初恋。
- I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
- They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。
- Mr. Smith gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert. 史密斯先生逐渐赢得全国金融专家的声誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He has garnered extensive support for his proposals. 他的提议得到了广泛的支持。 来自辞典例句
- The Auschwitz concentration camp always remind the world of the holocaust.奥辛威茨集中营总是让世人想起大屠杀。
- Ahmadinejad is denying the holocaust because he's as brutal as Hitler was.内贾德否认大屠杀，因为他像希特勒一样残忍。
- We are adamant on the building of a well-off society.在建设小康社会这一点上，我们是坚定不移的。
- Veronica was quite adamant that they should stay on.维罗妮卡坚信他们必须继续留下去。
- Soon great plantations, supported by slave labor, made some families very wealthy. 不久之后出现了依靠奴隶劳动的大庄园，使一些家庭成了富豪。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
- Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were deserted. 维恩特波恩的合同完成后，那片林地变得荒废了。 来自辞典例句