BLACK AND WHITE IN COLOUR (NOIRS ET BLANCS EN COULEUR)

France/Ivory Coast, 1976, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jean Carmet, Jacques Dufilho, Catherine Rouvel.
Directed by Jean-Jacques? Annaud.

Black and White in Colour won the Oscar for the best foreign language film of 1976. It was the first film of writer-director Jean-Jacques? Annaud who went on to make films like Quest for Fire, The Name of the Rose, The Bear, Seven Years in Tibet, Enemy at the Gates and Two Brothers.

The setting is the outbreak of World War One. It is a picture of French colonialism in Africa, the French settlers discovering that World War One has broken out and that they are at war with the Germans in nearby colonies. Their decision is to enlist the help of the native Africans and to turn them into military to confront the Germans.

The film is interesting in its re-creation of the colonial period – as well as its critique of it. It is also a comment on aspects of the futility of war.

1. The significance of the English title? The significance of the French title and the differences?

2. The production background, France, the Ivory Coast, America? The gearing to a French audience, international audience? The value of the Oscar of 1976?

3. The varying points of view: the European point of view about colonialism and World War I, the African point of view of war between distant countries? The German point of view and the French? The contemporary point of view about colonialism? Modern critiques of these attitudes? The attitude now towards the past – seriously, satirically?

4. How serious was the theme of colonialism and the European presence in Africa and its repercussions? How serious was the comic touch given to the personalities, the events? This situation as a microcosm of colonialism and World War I?

5. The importance of colour, the musical score and its atmosphere, the re-creation of the past? The re-creation of Europe in Africa?

6. The introduction to the Germans, the stereotyped German style and its illustration, the effect on the Africans and their speaking German and drilling in a German kind of way?

7. The contrast with the French and their lackadaisical style, the African-speaking French, drill and the township? The comparison between the two?

8. The portrait of the French personnel as illustrating the background of colonialism and the types who were present in Africa: the Commander and his drinking and lack of initiative, the shopkeepers and their exploiting people, their wives and their pseudo glamour and trying to be Europeans in Africa, the scientist and his researches and seeming exile especially as illustrated in his letters? How did the portrait of these characters establish the atmosphere? The interests of the group in Africa, the repercussions of their isolation?

9. The portrait of the Africans and their way of life, traditions having been supplanted by colonial attitudes?

10. The satirical portrait of the clergy? As belonging specifically to the French group with the French style and arrogance? The inherent racism of their attitudes? The sequence of their selling the statues for pagan implements? The critique of the role of the Church in Africa, missionary activity, alliance with colonial powers and supporting of the establishment?

11. The satire in the discovery of war, the emergence of patriotism which had been so dormant? The national stands taken, the mouthing of patriotism and the hypocrisy of behaviour? The charades of order and the singing of the national anthem etc.? The enlistment of the men? The portrait of the picnickers and the battles? The impact of actual deaths?

12. The portrait of the scientist, his personality, isolation? Why did he emerge as the practical man when considered a dreamer? His naivety and yet his ingenuity? Hie organizing people, offering advice, the Commander accepting his advice? The meetings, the inspections, people accepting his rule? Their reaction to his taking an African mistress?

13. The portrait of the waging or war and its meaning? The gestures of war?

14. The irony of the sudden ending and the illustration of the futility of the battles? The resumption of old relationships when the war was over, charging the German his costs?

15. What was the point of the arrival of the British, dressed as Scots, and actually Indians? The visual and verbal satire of colonialism?

16. What were the Africans left with after this experience and of war?

17. How entertaining, sardonic? Insights about human nature, war, the fatuous aspects of the waging of war and human beings taking themselves seriously?