The African Woman

1990 1h 45m DE

🤯

10.0

MASTERPIECE

⭐

6.9

IMDB

★10.0TMDB · 1★6.9IMDB · 42

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A dying woman, who stole her best friend's lover, is convinced that a spell has been cast on her, so she orchestrates her former friend's return from a self-imposed exile in Africa in the hopes of breaking the spell.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Barbara Sukowa
Martha
Stefania Sandrelli
Anna
Sami Frey
Victor
Jan Biczycki
Swinarski
Alexandre Mnouchkine
Andrej
Jacques Sernas
Dr. Wargnier
Kadidia Diarra
Kind
Bernard Tachl
Hausmeister

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Margarethe von Trotta
Writers: Margarethe von Trotta, Margarethe von Trotta
Languages: German, Italian
Countries: France, Germany, Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

36 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: German, Italian.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, Italy.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Margarethe von Trotta, shot by Tonino Delli Colli. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Eleni Karaindrou. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Nino Baragli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Barbara Sukowa and Stefania Sandrelli and Sami Frey carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Margarethe von Trotta directs. Tonino Delli Colli behind the camera. Eleni Karaindrou scores. Nino Baragli cuts. Produced in France, Germany, Italy. Dialogue in German, Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

136 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: German, Italian.
3International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, Italy.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Margarethe von Trotta, shot by Tonino Delli Colli. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Eleni Karaindrou. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Nino Baragli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Barbara Sukowa and Stefania Sandrelli and Sami Frey carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0098991 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.