Black Venus

Film

by Abdellatif Kechiche

Details

France and Italy / 2010 / 159mins / Historical Drama / French, English, Afrikaans and Dutch

Based on the true story of Sarah Baartman, the African woman who was displayed as a freak show attraction in the racially-obsessed Europe of the early 1800's. The sad tale unfolds in the gritty London circuses and genteel Paris salons where Baartman was forced to perform like a trained animal - and finally in the bars and brothels where she found an early death.

Trailer

About the Director

Abdellatif Kechiche

Abdellatif Kéchiche born 1960 in Tunis, Tunisia, is an actor, movie director and screenwriter. He made his directorial debut in 2000 with La Faute à Voltaire (Blame It on Voltaire), which he also wrote. His following feature film, L’Esquive (Games of Love and Chance -2003) truly revealed him, winning a César Award for Best Film and Best Director. He presented La Graine et le Mulet (The Secret of the Grain) at the 64th Mostra del Cinema in Venice for which he was awarded the Special Jury Prize, the FIPRESCI Prize, the Louis Delluc Prize and, once again, César Awards for Best Film and Best Director. His following film, Black Venus (2010) met critical success as well. In 2013, he won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival with his film La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 & 2 (Blue Is the Warmest Colour). Learn More