Black promises
"We, Black and French," a three-part documentary series directed by Lorène Debaisieux, explores both the role of women and social diversity. It follows three years in the lives of Fatou, Oumou, Khady, Lucie, Charlène, and Nadège. Between laughter and tears, these heroines share their experiences of heritage, traditions, their roots, Black beauty, and their relationship with France.
From the housing projects to Gorée Island, Mali, and the USA, four Black women living in France today face professional and romantic choices. Torn between modernity and tradition, they sometimes struggle. Through them, we relive their questions, frustrations, and dreams of a France that is both timeless and ever-changing.
Type (Documentaire / Documentaire fiction / Série documentaire)Documentary SeriesGenre en anglaisSociety CollectionWe, Black and French Written and directed byLorène DebaisieuxEditingPhilippe BaillonIn association with CNC, Angoa-Agicoa, ProcirepDistributed by Artline Films Year2006Duration53min
We asked Fatou, Lucie, Nadège, and Souria to continue the journey from “Black Beauties,” the film that first introduced them to us. Our heroines possess extraordinary energy, strength of character, charisma, and humor. In their ongoing quest for identity, I followed them into their familiar and everyday worlds. Over three years of filming allowed us to get closer to them and follow them to their countries of origin. From the housing projects of Plateau de Beauvais to Gorée Island, through Mali and the United States, this documentary tells the intertwined fates of four Black women living in France today.
Our heroines are facing critical choices—professional, romantic, and social. Their lives are on the verge of dramatic change. Fatou decides to leave her daily life in the housing projects to work with an association in Mali, where her father lives. Lucie is waiting for a promotion at the RATP while pondering her daughters’ decision to move to America. Souria, from the French Caribbean, has chosen humor as her medium, using her performances to portray the many facets of everyday racism. Nadège is preparing to take a big leap by marrying a white man in a grand ceremony.
Torn between modernity and tradition, our heroines face moments of inner conflict. With them, we relive their questions, frustrations, and dreams of a France that is both timeless and ever-changing.
Press coverage
These ladies discuss serious matters, sometimes with an apparent lightness, always with an engaging energy. (…) However, as an experienced documentarian, Lorène Debaisieux knows how to consistently return to the essentials after a few detours. There are also some journeys, which speak volumes about the patient work done to see an ambitious project through to completion.
Le Monde
A clear voice on self-assertion, between tradition and modernity (…) the impressionistic portrait of two generations of uninhibited and free women.
Télérama
You might also like
Black pains
"We, Black and French," a three-part documentary series directed by Lorène Debaisieux, explores both the place of women and social diversity. Over three years, we follow the lives of Fatou, Oumou,…
Black beauties
"We, Black and French," a three-part documentary series directed by Lorène Debaisieux, explores both the place of women and social diversity. Over three years, we follow the lives of Fatou, Oumou,…