Wasted 2 hours and 40 minutes. It was an interesting film, not “this one.” I can't find a word to describe what I saw.
The whole film Saarty drinks whiskey, participates in all sorts of freak shows, at the end of the film has sex. All! You won’t see anything else here, 80 percent of the scenes in the film are unnecessary and completely unnecessary.
In the reviews write that someone the film struck with its cruelty and other things. Are you serious? Is it really a revelation that 200 years ago there was racism and Africans were exploited in every way, including forced to participate in such shows? The real story was much sadder, crueler and sadder. The girl was killed by her parents, she was made a slave, then sold or transported to London to participate in the circus and show freaks, she was intimidated and she had no other choice and I am more than sure that the owner treated her no better than a wild animal, but here in the film, in her spare time, she calmly has fun and drinks in a bar surrounded by Englishmen. That's funny. 200 years ago, a black girl quietly drinks whiskey in a bar, surrounded by white English, do you believe that?
The main point in Saarti's story, in my opinion, is the story of the African Association, where they petitioned for her release and she had the chance to go back to South Africa, but she chose to stay in England, because being the object of ridicule and humiliation here is safer and probably safer than going back to South Africa and becoming a slave again. I understand that she refused to go back precisely out of fear, because her parents had been killed, and she was a slave in the house of wealthy white masters, and it was with the consent of these "masters" that she was brought to England. In the film, this is almost ignored.
The actress looks similar, thanks to her huge “fifth point”, but does not play convincingly. I am not surprised that after this film she was not invited anywhere else, and it has been 6 years. Although at the same time, after the release of the film, they managed to nominate for the Cesar Award as “The Most Promising Actress”. Ilm himself was nominated for the Golden Lion. It seems that films about racism are almost automatically guaranteed at least a nomination for some prestigious award, even such silly films as “Black Venus”.
I do not recommend anyone to watch this movie. From the sad, sad and interesting story for the film Saarti Bartmaan, shot 2 hours and 40 minutes absolutely nothing. Apart from the scenes of bullying a girl and her own drinking after work, you will not take anything away here.
2 out of 10