Black Girl: A Classic Film That Captures Depression
Restored to 4k by Janus Films, Black Girl will be released at BAMcinématek, a Brooklyn staple for culture. This Senegalese classic was acclaimed director Ousmane Sembène’s first feature film, and has traveled time and space to be a modern look into the past. Janus Films’ initiative is to save international films that especially represent world cultures and society. Yet. this gem goes beyond these incorporated factors to represent humanity and its battle with depression.
The film is simply cut with not too many dynamic angles or camera tricks, but that is part of its charm. The story is meant be undramatic in style but heavy in emotion. Its black and white coloring oddly escalates the heroine’s slow decline into depression. Born and raised in Dakar, Diouana, played tragically by Mbissine Thérèse Diop, grows to be a young. ambitious woman that struggles to get work due to various factors like, vast poverty and national battles with racial identity. Thus, the politics of society plague this individual’s life through communal discrepancies. Like any young woman, Diouana dreams of escaping to a better life, and takes a job as a nanny to Madam, played by Anne-Marie Jelinek. Diouana believes she is getting a wealthy opportunity by having to move to France. It is at this point that the decline of her dreams and a lesson on depression begins.
Through the empathy- inducing Diouana, Black Girl allows audiences to understand the tragedy of living with class and racial barriers. Her story resonates to viewers’ humanity especially, Millennial audiences. Ask one millennial if she or he feels like their life has gone according to plan or gone unto a better one and you will find several “Diouanas”. It is here where younger audiences can find their sympathy and humility towards this character and her devastating social neglect. Believing France would be a spotlight for her dreams and economic status, Diouana is instead made to be a domestic servant/ slave to this strange family. She barely is allowed to leave their home, is constantly berated, and is forbidden meals due to perceived “bad behavior”. Unable to find escape from her situation, Diouana gradually loses hope and strength for herself. Her once dreams become repeated nightmares and her past a torture to reminisce. Seeing this is heartbreaking.
It is the close-up shots of Diouana’s tearful face and her saddening narration that builds the audience’s sinking feeling. It is a sentiment that makes every person in that theater want to leap unto the screen and hold her. You just want to tell her, “It will get better!”, but can it? The film is set in 1966 Senegal/France. As a young black girl, despite her dreams, not many opportunities can be found for her. Knowing this gives the film a star-crossed sense of tragedy as she is pushed to the point of fatal thoughts. Seeing on screen a person so broken and succumb to her heart’s pain will help anyone understand the signs of suicidal depression. Unfortunately, the family she “nannied” for did not care enough to notice her descent into mindless hurt. For them, she was another black girl, but for you, her story will be a lesson to remember.
Black Girl will be released from May 18 to May 24 at Bam Rose Cinemas- 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217. I would recommend it for anyone trying to understand the social, cultural, racial, and class factors that push people to their mental brink. Moreover, it is a film for anyone trying to understand how someone could be in such pain that they would rather leave this earth.
