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Slave stories might become the new black in Hollywood.
Today, the Shadow And Act film blog revealed that Paris-based Other Angle Pictures picked up a French slavery comedy for international distribution. 'Case Départ' is scheduled for a July 6 release in France and with the international distribution deal, there's the possibility that a remake could happen in Hollywood. According to an article in the film industry trade magazine, 'Variety,' executives at Other Angle say 'Case Départ' has "remake potential".
The comedy is about two half-brothers, Joel and Regis (played by actors pictured above, Thomas Ngijol and Fabrice Eboué, respectively), who travel to the Caribbean to collect an inheritance from their dying father. They are given a document that chronicles their slave ancestry and in an effort to find out its worth, they accidentally destroy the document. Their aunt curses them and sends them back in time to the Transatlantic slavery period, where they are sold as slaves and must not only try to escape their conditions but also the year 1780. The trailer (shown below) is in French with no sub-titles, so those who don't understand the language may not be able to follow along, but there is a lighthearted feel to the clip and the slavery setting is clear.
Case Départ (2011) Trailer by Afro-Style-Communication
Meanwhile, a slave film closer to home was just given a release date. Indie-film blog, 'The Playlist' has announced the Quentin Tarantino-directed and written film about an escaped slave seeking revenge on his master in an effort to rescue his lover, 'Django Unchained,' is scheduled to come out on Christmas Day 2012. That's more than a year-and-a-half from now, but like most of Tarantino's films, this movie has been buzzed about from pretty much the moment Tarantino finished writing the screenplay.
Not since Alex Haley's highly acclaimed miniseries 'Roots' premiered in 1977 have we seen an honest (much less funny) depiction of slave life on either the big or small screen (Oprah tried with 'Beloved' but missed the mark by about 50 yards). To this day, the Roots' finale remains the third highest rated U.S. television program ever. In 2003, comedian Dave Chappelle would drum up some controversy on his 'Chappelle's Show' when several sketches touched on slavery, including one (shown below) parodying 'Roots' entitled "Roots Outtakes."
Whether a comedy or a drama, a remake or an original take, tackling the subject of slavery on film is going to be a challenge to any filmmaker or screenwriter. But the real test will ultimately rely on the audience. Even fairytale-esque black romantic comedies struggle to generate formidable box office revenue. We will have to wait and see if much darker and truer stories about the history of black folks in America will face the same dilemma.
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Comments: (8)
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By: E on 6/15/2011 3:16PM
"Not since Alex Haley's highly acclaimed miniseries 'Roots' premiered in 1977 have we seen an honest (much less funny) depiction of slave life on either the big or small screen (Oprah tried with 'Beloved' but missed the mark by about 50 yards)."
Um, what are you talking about? "Sankofa" by Haile Gerima came out in 1993. That film is a masterpiece.
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By: Gichaya on 6/17/2011 7:27PM
Whitey is so full of fear right now, as they are aware that they have lost their grip on America. Slave movies will make them feel better because it takes them back to a time that mad them happy. I'm sure they are wishing for the old days these days.
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By: B. Demand Jr on 6/15/2011 5:58PM
@Gichaya.
I don't agree with you first sentence but, here's a movie trend.
They make slavery movies.
We make movies like, kick white guy azz with Fred Williamson, Jim Brown and Jim Kelly.
Then, they make more Rocky movies beating the Brothas down.
We make a Black terrorist, sniper movie, blowing up whites in the city, who has a beautiful white girlfriend.
The public then demands less violent movies.
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By: Janice K. on 6/15/2011 6:18PM
@b demand. lol B. Is the public demanding less violence because of the explosions? (lol) or having the beautiful white women or both? lol, that was funny.
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By: kiki on 6/15/2011 6:03PM
I dont see how someone would like to remember slavery and that evil time. I guess that comment was to be funny. Just like these two comedies they shown. I dont think there is anything funny about that. I know there are brainless people that say raceist people that think the african americans were just dumb monkeys. But truth be told it was the dumb slave owners that let them run there property. Thats why the south was in such bad shape after civil war. They didnt know how to do anything. That is also why they hired the same people they robbed of freedom to do there work. If they could afford them!! hahaha
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By: Jeannette Blackwell on 6/15/2011 7:15PM
There have been some excellent movies depicting the history of slavery in this country. I see no reason to shy away from this subject and I am emboldened by the recent surge in films about this subject matter. There are so many untold stories about heroes during the Civil War, as well as figures who have never been mentioned in history books regarding this period in America. There is another new film coming out called Dog Jack. It is based on the true story and novel of the same name about a runaway slave boy and his dog who join the Union Army. The film is narrated by Academy Award winner, Louis Gossett, Jr. It won Best Drama at the San Diego Black Film Festival and will be screened at the San Francisco Black Film Festival running June 17-19, 2011.
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By: Disturbed in NC. on 6/15/2011 7:49PM
The enslavement of human beings is not humorist. I associate the enslavement of humans with brutality, dehumanization, and demoralization.
Americans and/or any other nation, culture, or country should never devalue the barbaric acts of slavery, especially for the amusement of comedy.
Slavery is an uneventful part of American history and truthfully of the current world. All depictions of slavery should express meaning, creativity, and cultural sensitive- awareness in efforts to teach, not utilize for comedy.
Let us be truthful, when is lynching, torment, and the crudity of humans funny?
Not to mention, I‘ve never seen or heard the Jewish culture poking fun of the Holocaust in any form or fashion, they would never participate in such foolishness.
Honestly, I am so disturbed. Find a better way to express your (lack of) creativity at your own expensive and not by the humility of others.
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By: GOMEZ on 6/17/2011 7:54PM
They should do a movie about present day slavery in Latin America. White Latinos still treat the black Hispanics as if they were chattel and private human property. The white Latinos force them to live on plantations, they are not allowed to go to school, have access to education or the best jobs. Blacks In Latin America! LaRaza onlt cares about white Latinos, there is much racism and hate against Black Latinos by the White Latino.
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