Image of the Day: Black Venus’s Abdellatif Kechiche

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Anyone who reads this site knows how much we are “hardcore” fans of French filmmaker Abdellatif Kechiche. Despite winning the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion with his last work La graine et le mule (just released on Criterion) the film was regrettably undervalued when it was pegged with an end of year theatrical release. With Black Venus, Kechiche will once again compete in Venice and the voluminous almost three hour drama will surely met with the same fate: critically applauded, difficult to market in North America. I’m crossing my fingers for a TIFF North American premiere to alter the film’s fate. 

Set in 19th century Europe, this is inspired by the true story of Saartjie Baartman, a South African slave whose unusually oversized features brought her to, where she found fame (born with physical deformities, she ended up being exhibited as a circus freak in Paris) and fought for her own freedom. First time actress Yahima Torres plays Baartman, and Olivier Gourmet (who you can make out in the distance, middle of the still) plays Réaux, le forain. Here is Kechiche giving directions on set to an unidentified actress. Look for more pics shortly.

Abdellatif Kechiche's Black Venus

Eric Lavallée
Eric Lavalléehttps://www.ericlavallee.com
Eric Lavallée is the founder, CEO, editor-in-chief, film journalist, and critic at IONCINEMA.com, established in 2000. A regular at Sundance, Cannes, and Venice, Eric holds a BFA in film studies from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema. In 2013, he served on the narrative competition jury at the SXSW Film Festival. He was an associate producer on Mark Jackson’s "This Teacher" (2018 LA Film Festival, 2018 BFI London). He is a Golden Globes Voter, member of the ICS (International Cinephile Society) and AQCC (Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma).

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