The first major work of Senegalese director Ousmane Sembene, this 1966 film is widely recognised as one of the founding works of African cinema. Black Girl is an incisive allegory about the relationship between France and Senegal, made shortly after Senegal's gaining its independence.

Diouana (Mbissine Therese Diop), like many others in Dakar, is unemployed and looking for work. Luckily enough, she finds work as a nursery maid for a French couple who have three young children. At the beginning of her employment, Diouana brings them a native mask as a gift. When they move back to France, they bring along Diouana but they mislead her as to what her responsibilities will be, leaving her feeling exploited and trapped inside an apartment all day as she is separated from the vibrant France she imagines and the support system she left behind in Senegal. She suffers the condescension and lack of respect from the French people she encounters as she serves them at the dinner table.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Mark Cosgrove, Watershed's Cinema Curator; Dr Rachael Langford, a researcher and teacher from the Unviersity of Cardiff; and writer and curator Karen Alexander.

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