Written By: Jamelia Mmari—Tunisian-born director Abdellatif Kechiche is slated to screen his historical biopic Venus Noire (Black Venus) at this year's New York film festival (September 24-October 10). The movie tells the horrific story of Saartjie Baartman, the so-called Hottentot Venus whose "oversized" features became a freakshow attraction in early nineteenth century London. Early reviews of Venus Noire are mixed, with African Diaspora media website Shadow Act writing, "I fear that this film might not be an examination, as much as another attempt to put on display, the form and the differences of her body, to forever be pointed at for DVD and Blu-Ray" and leading film publication Variety writing,
History doesn’t get more intriguing than the fragments known about Saartjie Baartman, the so-called Hottentot Venus whose outsized features became a freakshow attraction in early nineteenth century London and Paris. “Black Venus” doesn’t attempt the impossible by pretending to get inside Saartjie’s head, instead insisting on her inner dignity despite constant, terrifying humiliation. The project is valiant, but writer-director Abdellatif Kechiche has trouble finding a rhythm, and the overlong pic can be distressingly strident, making it painful to watch for reasons both good and bad.
For more about the film, including the teaser trailer, visit www.shadowandact.com.
