Film Synopsis
In 1817, before a gathered assembly of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Paris, Georges Cuvier presents a cast of an African woman and remarks that he has never seen a human head so close to that of an ape. The object of Cuvier's racist observations (which are applauded by all who attend his lecture) is Saartjie Baartman, one of the Khoikhoi people living in southwest Africa. In 1810, she left her native homeland and travelled to London with her master Caezar, who exhibited her at freak shows on account of her unusually large hind quarters. Known as the Hottentot Venus, Saartjie became a popular attraction, although she died young, at the age of 26 in 1815. When Caezar was charged with slavery by the African Institution, it was Saartjie who came to his aid. Together, they left for Paris, where the unfortunate woman became an object of scientific racism right up until her death...© James Travers
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Film Credits
- Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
- Script: Abdellatif Kechiche, Ghalia Lacroix
- Cinematographer: Lubomir Bakchev
- Music: Slaheddine Kechiche
- Cast: Yahima Torres (Saartjie 'Sarah' Baartman), Andre Jacobs (Hendrick Caezar), Olivier Gourmet (Réaux), Elina Löwensohn (Jeanne), François Marthouret (Georges Cuvier), Michel Gionti (Jean-Baptiste Berré), Jean-Christophe Bouvet (Charles Mercailler, le journaliste), Jonathan Pienaar (Alexander Dunlop), Rémi Martin (Le premier client du bordel), Jean-Jacques Moreau (Henri de Blainville), Cyril Favre (Le premier aide naturaliste), Dominique Ratonnat (Le 2e aide naturaliste), Didier Bourguignon (Le 3e aide naturaliste), Ralph Amoussou (Harry, le premier domestique), Alix Serman (Matthew, le deuxième domestique), Patrick Albenque (Zachary Macaulay), Christian Erickson (Lord Ellenborough), Nigel Hollidge (Maître Gazely), Paul Bandey (Le procureur général), Philip Schurer (Peter van Wageninge)
- Country: France / Belgium
- Language: French / Afrikaans / English
- Support: Color
- Runtime: 162 min
- Aka: Black Venus
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