It’s a really good movie. Really, really good.

But it’s not fun to watch. This is not entertainment. It’s difficult to watch, emotional, and full of sorrow. Even the “uplifting” moments are bitter.

So yeah, go watch it. Think about what it means. And then think about how the time in our history wasn’t very long ago. We Americans have a short view of our past. Movies like this remind us that it is not entirely the wonderful story we want it to be.

We are a country that was built on the labor of great men. But we are also a country that was built on the labor of slaves—slaves that labored under heavy atrocities. And 12 Years a Slave does not sugar-coat that world.

You’ll cry. You will cringe. You’ll struggle to keep watching; you’ll be a voyeur to appalling violence. This firm is a terrible greatness. You won’t be disappointed when you leave at the end, but you’ll be uneasy. Perhaps even a little queasy.