“12 Years a Slave” Changed My View of Slavery

Like many others, I saw the movie 12 Years a Slave the first weekend it came to a theater near Tuscaloosa.  I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover some of the historical content in the movie. 

I already knew that there were free black people during slavery, but I had no idea that they were as cultured as the movie portrayed.  It also didn't cross my mind that a free man could have been sold into slavery when he was obviously free.

While it has long been discussed that slaves were often used as entertainment for their masters' parties, that they were considered property, and that they were mistreated, I never knew that white people were enslaved, too.

If you've seen the movie, what was your take on it?