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Black Venus

Black Venus

History · Drama · 2010

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.

Movie details

Black Venus

2010 History · Drama 2h 39m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Black Venus?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Abdellatif Kechiche

Written by

Abdellatif Kechiche · Ghalya Lacroix

Yahima Torres

Yahima Torres

Saartjie Baartman

André Jacobs

André Jacobs

Hendrick Caezar

Olivier Gourmet

Olivier Gourmet

Réaux

Elina Löwensohn

Elina Löwensohn

Jeanne

François Marthouret

François Marthouret

Georges Cuvier

M

Michel Gionti

Jean Baptiste-Berré

Jean-Christophe Bouvet

Jean-Christophe Bouvet

Charles Mercailler

Court is in session

Put Black Venus on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.