West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty
Mauritanian French firebrand Med Hondo puts colonialism itself on trial in this one-of-a-kind musical spectacular—a collective effort of unprecedented scale and ambition that proved a watershed event in African cinema. Aboard an enormous mock slave ship, Hondo stages a series of imaginative reenactments and intricately choreographed musical numbers that trace the devastating effects of French imperialism across centuries of enslavement and injustice. Beyond mere extravaganza, West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty is a stirring call to Pan-African independence and a dazzling yet critical reconception of an entire people’s history of oppression and rebellion.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
- New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Program featuring archival interviews with director Med Hondo
- New interview with African-cinema scholar Aboubakar Sanogo
- Excerpted archival interview with cinematographer François Catonné
- Trailers
- PLUS: An essay by film programmer and critic Ashley Clark
New cover by Chris Visions
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
- New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Program featuring archival interviews with director Med Hondo
- New interview with African-cinema scholar Aboubakar Sanogo
- Excerpted archival interview with cinematographer François Catonné
- Trailers
- PLUS: An essay by film programmer and critic Ashley Clark
New cover by Chris Visions
Cast
- Jenny Alpha
- Mademoiselle Hummingbird
- Cyril Aventurin
- The father
- Fernand Berset
- The hotelkeeper
- Roland Bertin
- Death
- Toto Bissainthe
- Sister Marie de St. Joseph de Cluny de Jesus
- Gérald Bloncourt
- Mr. de la Pierre
- Philippe Clévenot
- The monk
- Monique Couturier
- Support lady
- Jean-Paul Denizon
- Representative of the patrons
- Gabriel Glissant
- Premier dancer
- Elsie Haas
- Nurse
- Georges Hilarion
- Mr. Belleville
- Théo Légitimus
- Mr. Gaston Monerbourg
- Robert Liensol
- Deputy Justin
- Blanche Lolia
- Mireille
- Maîthé Mansoura
- Mademoiselle Snowflake
- Josy Mass
- The mother
- Véronique Mucret
- Colibrijoli
- Louison Roblin
- Landlady
- Elliot Roy
- Man
- Mario Santini
- Leaflet distributor
- Tara Schaff
- Assistant
- Jean-Pierre Sentier
- Political leader
- Kassimo Sterling
- Second dancer
- Bernard Valdeneige
- Maître d’hôtel
- Hélène Vincent
- The social worker
- André Weber
- The worker
- Louis Xavier
- Mr. Goncondor
Credits
- Director
- Med Hondo
- Producer
- Med Hondo
- Screenplay adaptation by
- Med Hondo
- Based on the play Les négriers by
- Daniel Boukman
- Director of photography
- François Catonné
- Assistant director
- Jean Léon
- Editor
- Youcef Tobni
- Sound engineer
- Antoine Bonfanti
- Production designer
- Jacques Saulnier
- Cameraman
- Jean-Paul Meurisse
- Choreography
- Linda Dingwall
- Collaboration
- Jean-Claude Zadith
- Score
- Georges Rabol
- Music and Creole songs
- Frank Valmont
- Costumes
- Ghyslain Martin
- Costumes
- Michèle Cerf
- Costumes
- Michele Feilleux
- Costumes
- Marie-Dominique Gerbet
- Makeup
- Josiane Deschamps
- Makeup
- Fatiha Rahou
- Makeup
- Julie Cerf
1/9
Trailer for West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty
2/9
3/9
4/9
5/9
6/9
7/9
8/9
9/9