The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire

Overshadowed by her husband, the poet and politician Aimé Césaire, Suzanne Césaire was a pioneering figure of Afro-surrealism, a surrealist writer, feminist and anti-colonialist activist during the first half of the 20th century. For this bold project of reclamation, filmmaker Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich burrows to the complex truths about a woman, artist, and mother forgotten to history.

César-award-winner Zita Hanrot play an actress haunted by voices as she embarks on inhabiting the role of surrealist Suzanne Césaire while three months postpartum. Using voice-over and direct address to evoke her writing, as well as meditative, immersive 16mm images of forests in Martinique, director Hunt-Ehrlich steers away from a straightforward biography, instead crafting a contemplative piece that probes into the enduring mystery of Césaire’s artistic contributions and the challenges of managing motherhood with a career.

• The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire on Tue 29 Jul is part of our Cinébites deal: get 30% off any main dish in the Café & Bar with a valid ticket for Club Shed members.

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