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The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire + ScreenTalk with Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich hosted by Matthew Barrington (PG)

ScreenTalk

,Cinema 2

Director and writer Madeleine Hunt Ehrlich joins us to discuss her debut feature, an immersive exploration of the work of the remarkable Martinican writer and activist Suzanne Césaire.

Shot on 16mm and bathed in the lush greenery of tropical Martinique, The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire is a beguiling snapshot of the life Suzanne Cesaire, a feminist, anti-colonialist, pioneer of Afro-Caribbean surrealism, and co-founder of influential cultural journal Tropiques.

With her accomplishments long overshadowed by her prominent husband, Aime Césaire, and much of Suzanne’s work burned by her herself, Hunt-Ehrlich seeks to make a film about “an artist who didn’t want to be remembered.”

Described by Sight and Sound as an “anti-biopic”, the film is presented through the lens of an actress (Zita Hanrot) who is preparing to play Suzanne in the biopic film of her life. We see fragments of Suzanne’s life as a school teacher, an organiser, and the mother of six children.

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Film information
  • Release year   2024
  • Country   US
  • Director   Madeleine Hunt Ehrlich
  • Runtime   1hr 15min

Cinema 2

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.