Alan Govenar's New Documentary About Black Americans in Paris
MYTH OF A COLORBLIND FRANCE
Premiering on Apple TV, iTunes, Amazon & DVD February 16, 2021
For more than a century, Black artists such as Josephine Baker, James Baldwin, Augusta Savage, and Richard Wrighthave traveled to Paris to liberate themselves from the racism of the United States. What made these artistic innovators choose France? And to what extent is France truly colorblind?
The new documentary Myth of a Colorblind Franceinvestigates these questions and examines racism that has plagued not only African Americans fleeing the United States, but Africans and people of color in France today.
"Artistry Abroad! A history of eminent African-Americans who have lived in France, interweaving the thoughts of Black artists residing there today with the stories of historical figures who traveled to the country beginning in the 19th century. This is a huge subject." - Ben Kenigsberg, The New York Times
“A must-see for anyone interested in Paris, history, and Black lives and culture - then and now.”
- James van Maanen, TRUSTMOVIES
“Explores whether the country that has long been a haven for Black people...really is the enlightened refuge it has seemed to be.”
- Michael O’Sullivan & Ann Hornaday, THE WASHINGTON POST
“Fascinating...Engrossing.”
- Bill Vaughan, LOS ANGELES WAVE
MORE ABOUT THE FILM
Directed by Alan Govenar,Myth of a Colorblind France explores the lives and careers of renowned African Americans who emigrated to Paris, including Josephine Baker, James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Augusta Savage, Beauford Delaney, and Barbara Chase-Riboud, and includes rare footage of Henry Ossawa Tanner in
Paris.
The film also features interviews with renowned author Michel Fabre, jazz aficionado Francis Hofstein, poet James Emanuel, historian Tyler Stovall, filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris, graffiti artist Quik, hip hop producer Ben the Glorious Bastard, African drummer Karim Toure, and many more.
Myth of a Colorblind France Premieres February 16, 2021 on Apple TV, iTunes, Amazon & DVD
DVD INFO: UPC: 7-20229-91810-7 | Catalog #: FRF 918107D | MSRP: $24.95 Directed by Alan Govenar | 86 minutes, color, 2020 | In English
