The historical drama by Abdellatif KECHICHE, Black Venus, an original French and English version with English subtitles is screening at the Goethe Institut.

The unsettling 19th century story of a tragic fate will last 159 min and starts at 6:30pm.

Synopsis

Black Venus is the story of Saartjie Baartman, who in 1808, left Southern Africa that was then ruled by Dutch settlers and followed her boss, Hendrick Caesar, in hope of finding fame and fortune in Europe. Once in London, her master turned manager exhibited her as "The Hottentot Venus" in a phony and humiliating carnival show.

After a series of troubles caused by their act, Caesar, Saartjie, and their new friend, bear-tamer Réaux, head for Paris where once again, and against her will, she has to mimic savagery and expose her body, first in carnivals, then in the aristocratic salons of Paris, later on among the libertines and finally in brothels where she ended up being a prostitute.