White Material (2009)

White Material (2009) (DVD) (*)

$25.99

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Venice Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
French ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
French ( Dolby Digital Stereo )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
101 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 2009 and produced in:
Cameroon ( Africa, Middle East )
France ( France, Benelux )

Directed By:
Claire Denis

Written By:
Claire Denis
Marie N'Diaye

Actors:
Isabelle Huppert ..... Maria Vial
Christopher Lambert ..... André Vial
Nicolas Duvauchelle ..... Manuel Vial
Isaach De Bankolé ..... Le Boxeur
William Nadylam ..... Chérif, le maire
Adèle Ado ..... Lucie, la femme d'André
Ali Barkai ..... Jeep, le chef des enfants rebelles
Daniel Tchangang ..... José
Michel Subor ..... Henri Vial, le propriétaire
Jean-Marie Ahanda
Patrice Eya
Serge Mong
Martin Poulibe
Mama Njouam
Pierre-Ange Tatah

Synopsis:

In this drama directed and co-written by Claire Denis, Isabelle Huppert plays Maria, a white woman living in an African nation that has been falling into political chaos. Maria owns a coffee plantation, and regards her property as her personal domain; she would rather fight that give up her land, though her stubborn attitude prevents her from admitting that she's putting those close to her in danger. Maria has a young son with her former husband Andre, and Andre is deeply concerned for the safety of both Maria and their child. Andre lives in France with his new wife and has made plans for both Maria and their son to flee to Europe, but Maria insists that the military will protect her and the other farmers in the area, a belief that seems to be fueled by arrogance rather than fact. White Material received its North American premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.

Taking place in an unnamed African country torn by a rebellion, Maria, a fierce and fearless white woman, refuses to abandon her coffee crops and to acknowledge the danger to which she is exposing her family. For her, to leave is to surrender: a sign of weakness, of cowardice. On this plantation which has already supported three generations of whites, Andre--her ex-husband and father of their teenage son--is afraid of her blind, stubborn pride. Without her knowing, he resolves to arrange the family's escape, their return to France. Coffee no longer means anything to him. He has married again, a young African woman, with whom he has a son and for them, he will stop at nothing.

Early in Claire Denis's powerful, agonized film 'White Material," you see a woman in a short pink dress, Maria — played by a sublime Isabelle Huppert — hanging off the back of a bus. The setting is a contemporary unnamed African country being torn to pieces by government troops, marauding rebels and the enduring ravages of European colonialism. As she holds on tight, her short-sleeved dress fluttering, the camera moves in close enough for you to see the muscles in Ms. Huppert's thin arms popping, straining with the terrific effort that encapsulates the will to survive.

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 20 December, 2010.