Directed by Claire Denis • 1990 • France, West Germany
Starring Isaach De Bankolé, Alex Descas, Solveig Dommartin
Inspired by the writings of anticolonialist philosopher Frantz Fanon, Claire Denis’s thrillingly intense second feature is a moody exploration of immigrant alienation. Two young men living in France, Dah (Isaach De Bankolé) from Benin and Jocelyn (Alex Descas) from the Caribbean, make money through illegal cockfighting. As Pierre (Jean-Claude Brialy), the French owner of the restaurant where the fights take place, pushes them to make the events more violent, the disillusioned Jocelyn begins looking for a way out from the sordid dealings that surround him.
Up Next in Frantz Fanon at 100
-
Black Girl
Directed by Ousmane Sembène • 1966 • Senegal
Starring M’Bissine Thérèse DiopOusmane Sembène was one of the greatest and most groundbreaking filmmakers who ever lived, as well as the most renowned African director of the twentieth century—and yet his name still deserves to be better known in ...
-
The Battle of Algiers
Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo • 1966 • Algeria, Italy
Starring Brahim Haggiag, Jean Martin, Saadi YacefOne of the most influential political films in history, THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS, by Gillo Pontecorvo, vividly re-creates a key year in the tumultuous Algerian struggle for independence from the o...
-
Sambizanga
Directed by Sarah Maldoror • 1972 • Angola
Starring Domingos de Oliveira, Elisa Andrade, Jean M’VondoThis revolutionary bombshell by Sarah Maldoror chronicles the awakening of Angola’s independence movement. Based on a true story, SAMBIZANGA follows a young woman as she makes her way from the o...
