Black Venus

2010 2h 39m FR

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 127

HistoryDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The true story of Saartje Baartman, a black South African worker who moves to London with her master in the early 19th century. Although she dreams of being an artist, once in Europe she is exploited as a sideshow attraction due to her large buttocks and genitalia.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

FandorSubscription

Google Play MoviesRent

YouTubeRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Cast

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

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
Writers: Abdellatif Kechiche, Abdellatif Kechiche, Ghalya Lacroix
Languages: Afrikaans, French, English, Dutch
Countries: France, Belgium

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

RUNTIME

Did you know

Clocks in at 159 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 16 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Afrikaans, French, English, Dutch.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, Belgium.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, shot by Lubomir Bakchev. 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 Slaheddine Kechiche. 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 Ghalya Lacroix 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

Yahima Torres and André Jacobs and Olivier Gourmet carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Abdellatif Kechiche directs. Lubomir Bakchev behind the camera. Slaheddine Kechiche scores. Ghalya Lacroix cuts. Produced in France, Belgium. Dialogue in Afrikaans, French, English, Dutch.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Clocks in at 159 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.
2Released 16 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Afrikaans, French, English, Dutch.
4International production across 2 countries: France, Belgium.
5Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, shot by Lubomir Bakchev. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Slaheddine Kechiche. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Ghalya Lacroix shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Yahima Torres and André Jacobs and Olivier Gourmet carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt1401643 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 17 themes, including "london, england", "france", "paris, france", "brothel".