Black Venus [Blu-ray]

Director: Abdel Kechiche, Abdellatif Kechiche Abdel Kechiche

Overview

A woman turned into a sideshow attraction by those who imagine themselves her superiors struggles to maintain her dignity in this drama based on a true story. Sarah "Saartjie" Baartma (Yahima Torres) was born in South Africa but found a certain fame in Europe in the first decades of the 19th century, as she was exhibited like a sideshow attraction by Hendrick Caezar (Andre Jacobs), who billed her as "The Hottentot Venus" and encouraged audiences to view her as part human, part animal. Baartma performed like a trained animal under Caezar's direction, and sometimes she was required to appear nude before the crowds as spectators were allowed to touch her buttocks and genitals. When reporters condemn Caezar's exploitation of Baartma, she declares in court that she's acting of her own free will, but she's hesitant to explain why she allows herself to be treated so poorly. When Baartma's partnership with Caezar comes to an end, she finds herself working with a French showman, Reaux (Olivier Gourmet), who is even less scrupulous as he parades her before slumming French aristocrats, and later she is at the mercy of Georges Cuvier (Francois Marthouret), a scientist who uses her as part of his vile experiments in hopes of proving Africans are racially inferior. Written and directed Abdellatif Kechiche, Venus Noire (aka Black Venus) received its North American premiere at the 2010 New York Film Festival.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/22/2018
UPC:	0760137123385
Original Release:	2010
Rating:	NR
Source:	Arrow Video
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:42:00
Sales rank:	34,324

Special Features

Brand-new appreciation of Black Venus and the cinema Of Abdellatif Kechiche by critic Neil Young; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Yahima Torres	Saartjie Baartman
Andre Jacobs	Hendrick Caezar
Olivier Gourmet	Réaux
Jonathan Pienaar	Actor
Jean-Christophe Bouvet	Charles Mercailler, le journaliste
Olivier Loustau	Le hussard
Elina Löwensohn	Actor
François Marthouret	Actor
Slaheddine Kechiche	Composer

Technical Credits

Abdel Kechiche	Director
Charles Gillibert	Producer
Marin Karmitz	Producer,Producer
Abdellatif Kechiche	Director
Nicolas Waschkowski	Sound/Sound Designer
Jean-Paul Hurier	Sound/Sound Designer