Black Venus Film Review

Posted by FilmBubble on Jan 3, 2013 in Blog | 1 comment

Black Venus is the powerful true story of Saartje Baartman, a South African woman who was brought to London by her master to be exploited as a sideshow attraction. Free and enslaved at the same time, the “Hottentot Venus” became an icon in the slums, eventually ending up in Paris as a sexual slave and the subject of dubious scientific study. Acclaimed director Abdellatif Kechiche (The Secret of the Grain) brings Baartman’s tragic yet unforgettable tale to life in this “supremely accomplished journey”.

The “Hottentot Venus” is played by Cuban self taught actress – Yahima Torres, who moved from Cuba to France to teach Spanish in schools. Living in Paris, she met Kechiche by chance in 2005. Three years later, Torres auditioned for the role and won.

This movie is a gripping tale based on the life story of Sarah Baartman, a women presented and exploited as a ‘freak’ attraction to the European white man.

Torres’ performance is unforgettable. Extremely subtle, she is able to lure the viewer in with her eyes. During the long scenes of humiliating entertainment, where Torres is either in a cage, or held on a leash attached to her neck, she barely speaks and is forced to do what her ‘master’ says. In doing so, one can get a true sense of what this woman was feeling during these performances; by examining the way she watches and connects with her European audience.

Sarah Baartman died on 29 December 1815 of an undetermined health cause, possibly pneumonia, syphilis or smallpox.

Her skeleton, preserved genitals and brain were placed on display in Paris’ Musée de l’Homme until 1974, when they were removed from public view and stored out of sight; a cast was still shown for the following two years.

After the victory of the African National Congress in the South African general election, 1994, President Nelson Mandela formally requested that France return the remains. After much legal wrangling and debates in the French National Assembly, France acceded to the request on 6 March 2002. Her remains were repatriated to her homeland, the Gamtoos Valley, on 6 May 2002 and they were buried on 9 August 2002 on Vergaderingskop, a hill in the town of Hankey over 200 years after her birth.

Sarah Baartman became the blueprint of degrading and humiliating the black woman on a worldwide level. Baartman became an icon in South Africa as representative of many aspects of the nation’s history.
Black Venus is certainly a film everyone whom is interested in the human condition should see.

Yahima Torres takes us on a dangerous and heartbreaking voyage expressing human soul and determination in coping with our emotions and hardships at raging extents.

Written and Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche

Cast:

Yahima Torres as Saartjie ‘Sarah’ Baartman
Andre Jacobs as Hendrick Caezar
Olivier Gourmet as Réaux
Elina Löwensohn as Jeanne
François Marthouret as Georges Cuvier
Michel Gionti as Jean-Baptiste Berré
Jean-Christophe Bouvet as Charles Mercailler
Jonathan Pienaar as Alexander Dunlop

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