Rue cases nègres (1983)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Euzhan Palcy

Writers:

Euzhan Palcy (writer)
Joseph Zobel (novel)

Release Date:

21 September 1983 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Martinique, in the early 1930s. Young José and his grandmother live in a small village. Nearly everyone works cutting cane and barely earning a living...

Plot Keywords:

School | Martinique | 1930s | Sugar Cane | Third World

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Garry Cadenat	...	Jose
Darling Légitimus	...	M'Man Tine
Douta Seck	...	Medouze
Joby Bernabé	...	Monsieur Saint-Louis
Francisco Charles	...	Le Gereur
Marie-Jo Descas	...	La Mere de Leopold
Marie-Ange Farot	...	Madame Saint Louis
Henri Melon	...	Monsieur Roc
Eugène Mona	...	Douze Orteils
Joël Palcy	...	Carmen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Serge Abattucci
Samuel Abraham	...	Un enfant
Albert Adea
Jose Aloha
Dominique Arfi
Dorothee Audibert
Emmanuel Beaudi
Louis Luc Bernex
Emilie Blameble
Norita Blamelbe
Gisèle Boisan
Emile Caserus
Max Cilla
Francis Coco	...	Un enfant
Mthieu Crico	...	Un enfant
Leon De la Guigneraye
Céline Delaunay-Belleville	...	Une enfant
Virginie Delaunay-Belleville	...	Une enfant
David Fadeau	...	Un enfant
Bernard Fergant
Clothaire Grivallier
Mathieu Grivallier
Victor Grivallier
Jacques Guinchard
Michael Guitteau	...	Un enfant
Tania Hamel	...	Une enfant
Miguel Huret	...	Un enfant
Sonia Joseph
Richard Labetan
André Lehr
Serge Lof
Maïté Marquet	...	Une enfant
Félix Mence
Monique Nelson
Ghislaine Pierre-Nicolas
Roger Promard
Joby Ravenet	...	Un enfant
Joseph Rene-Corail
Lina Sabinus
Laurent Saint-Cyr	...	Un enfant
Lucette Salibur
Edgar Septua
Félix Ursulet
Joseph Zobel

Also Known As:

Black Shack Alley
Sugar Cane Alley

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

France | Martinique

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:G | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:9 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Fort de France, Martinique, Départements d'Outre-Mer, France

Company:

NEF Diffusion

Movie Connections:

References Coeur de Paris (1931)

Haiku: Rue Cases Nègres

Haiku: Thank you Grandmother / For not sugar-coating our / Trip out of shanty FOUR PLUSES & A NEGATIVE: 1) French language film with Black Afro-Centric Themes. 2) Strong performances by actors and non-actors, both young and old . 3) Film is directed by a Black woman, Euzhan Palcy, who would go on to direct "A Dry White Season"... becoming the first Black woman to direct a Hollywood movie (according to IMDb trivia). 4) Uplifting themes about the importance of education, self respect, etc. for the betterment of Blacks in Martinique in the 1930s (that still ring true for Blacks everywhere today!) 5) Runtime of 103 minutes needed more consistent pacing as there were moments that felt a bit slow.

Random Thoughts: I had just dropped out of college (SUNY Buffalo) for the umpteenth time. It was difficult for me being young, Black and gay in Buffalo circa 1985. My biggest struggle was succumbing to my parents desire to see me pursue a major (Accounting) that would lead to employment versus one that I was interested in and passionate about (French and languages). After dropping out, returning home, working a series of meaningless jobs and wondering aimlessly through some local community colleges, I decided to take French lessons at the Alliance Francaise in NYC. Like in France, they "released " movies on Wednesdays and that was the highlight of my French school week.

It was at the Alliance Francaise that I first saw "Rue Cases Nègres" and it was after viewing that film I dedicated myself to becoming fluent in French, living in France, finishing school, living my life, etc. My rating of seven (7) reflects more the impact and importance of this movie for me.

If you'd like to read more of my haikus, please visit my blog at richardwallenhaiku.blogspot.com