Beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema.
BLACK VENUS
Vénus noire
Synopsis
Saartjie left her native South Africa with her master, Caezar, to expose her body to the audiences of London’s freak shows. Free and enslaved all at the same time, the “Hottentot Venus” became an icon in the slums, destined to be sacrificed in the pursuit of a shimmering vision of prosperity.
Our take
Based on the shocking real-life story of Black performer Sarah Baartman, Abdellatif Kechiche (Blue is the Warmest Color) marshals a blistering critique of racism and the colonial gaze that turns us into complicit voyeurs. Featuring a truly remarkable debut performance from Yahima Torres.
Synopsis
Saartjie left her native South Africa with her master, Caezar, to expose her body to the audiences of London’s freak shows. Free and enslaved all at the same time, the “Hottentot Venus” became an icon in the slums, destined to be sacrificed in the pursuit of a shimmering vision of prosperity.
