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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Black Venus")
directed by Abdellatif Kechiche
France 2010
| Between Couscous, winner of three
César Awards, and the Cannes triumph of
Blue Is the Warmest Colour, Abdellatif Kechiche
made Black Venus, a stark portrait of the life of
Saartjie Baartman, also known as the 'Hottentot Venus' . Baartman was taken from South African home as a 21-year-old and shipped to Georgian London, where she would be caged and exhibited as a freak show. Presented semi-nude, her physique especially her large buttocks was the source of much curiosity. But as her fame spread, so too did her exploitation... Centred on a remarkable performance by Cuban actor Yahima Torres as Baartman, Black Venus provides a bleak but barbed exploration of sex, science, race, colonialism and social attitudes. *** Tunisian born cowriter (with Ghalia Lacroix, "Games of Love and Chance")/director Abdellatif Kechiche ("The Secret of the Grain") has been making films about the immigrant experience in his adopted France, all involving theatricality of one form or another. "Games of Love and Chance" used the play-within-a-movie approach with Muslim teens in a Parisian high rise experiencing the themes of the 18th century play they are producing for school. "The Secret of the Grain" involved the rite of making couscous and the turmoil of opening a floating North African restaurant in a French port town. With "Black Venus," Kechiche takes on the real life tale of Sarah Baartman, a woman mercilessly exploited because of her racial characteristics. This is Kechiche's harshest film, difficult to watch as it plays out like "The Elephant Man" with racism added to its subject's trials. |
Posters / Books / Vintage Advertisements
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Theatrical Release: September 2010 (Venice Film Festival) (premiere)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review:
Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray|
Box Cover |
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Released, by Arrow on Blu-ray, one day later in the US
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Distribution |
Arrow |
| Runtime |
2:45:26.375 |
| Video |
Disc Size: 47,962,143,558 bytes Feature Size: 38,379,356,160 bytes Average Bitrate: 24.99 Mbps / 27.89 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video |
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Bitrate:
Arrow Blu-ray
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| Audio |
DTS-HD Master Audio French 1972 kbps 5.1
/ 48 kHz / 1972 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core:
5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) |
| Subtitles | English, None |
| Features |
Release
Information: Studio: Arrow
Disc Size: 47,962,143,558 bytes Feature Size: 38,379,356,160 bytes Average Bitrate: 24.99 Mbps / 27.89 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: Chapters: 16 |
| Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray (May 2018): This is the another Arrow Blu-ray release that is being simultaneously released in both region 'A' (US) and 'B' (UK). It is the exact same transfer, extras etc. in both Europe and North America.
NOTE: As Michael Brooke informs us in our Facebook Group in regards to Day of Anger: 'As the producer of Arrow's release, I can confirm first hand that the UK and US discs are absolutely identical... The booklets are also identical, but there are minor cosmetic differences on the disc labels and sleeve to do with differing copyright info and barcodes, and the US release doesn't have BBFC logos.' Black Venus is the same situation.
Arrow's 1080P transfer is gorgeous with crystal-clear sharpness but this looks like a transfer from the DCP format not the 35mm. Regardless, it is excellent in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with occasional deep colors (reds) and well-layered contrast. It's on a dual-layered disc with a reasonable bitrate for the 2 3/4 hour feature. I was impressed with the detail of the HD presentation.
Arrow use the option of a DTS-HD Master in 5.1 surround (16-bit) or a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) that supports the film's score by Slaheddine Kechiche (only film credit). The film doesn't export much separation but the crows sounds disperse the audio and the music supports the 'touring' and dancing sequences. There are optional English subtitle (see sample) on the Region FREE Blu-ray disc. Extras consist of a brand-new, 33-minute, appreciation of Black Venus and the cinema of Abdellatif Kechiche by critic Neil Young. I thought it was excellent covering quite a lot in the 1/2 hour. There is also a theatrical trailer and the package has a reversible sleeve featuring and original newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain and for the first pressing an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Will Higbee, author of Post-Beur Cinema: North African Émigré and Maghrebi-French Filmmaking in France Since 2000. The topic of Black Venus is fascinating. I had told my wife about it and a week or so ago she called me over to the TV to see, what she thought was, a trailer for Black Venus. It turned out to be a Nicki Minaj music video. My point being there are some obvious links to modern culture and our voyeuristic obsessive-ness with the 'different'. Once again great film for Arrow to bring to Blu-ray. Wow - its is long but hooks you early and doesn't let go. The package has plenty of value with the film, Neil Young supplement plus booklet - and it gets our highest recommendation! Gary Tooze |
Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
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Box Cover |
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Released, by Arrow on Blu-ray, one day later in the US
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
