France was the second largest colonial empire after Britain in the transatlantic slave trade, deporting 1.38 million individuals. Despite the significant impact, the narratives of the enslaved are largely unrepresented in French media. Most familiar portrayals come from American films, leaving a gap in the French collective memory. While some French filmmakers have attempted to address slavery, such as Christian Lara and Guy Deslauriers, their contributions are not widely recognized. The film 'No Chains No Masters' marks a pivotal moment by highlighting 18th-century slavery narratives, presenting an aesthetic representation previously unseen in French cinema, focusing on the experiences of Black individuals.
France's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade led to 1.38 million deported individuals in at least 4,220 documented expeditions, yet these stories remain largely absent in French media.
Despite successful films by French filmmakers about slavery, mainstream cinema has largely depicted the subject through the lens of American narratives, overshadowing the French perspective.
'No Chains No Masters' breaks new ground in French cinema by portraying the story of 18th-century slavery victims in Isle de France, featuring an aesthetic focus on Black bodies.
Many French films about slavery have chosen comedic approaches that failed to truly engage with the structural oppression faced by enslaved people, showcasing a gap in historical representation.
Collection
[
|
...
]