BLACK

Martha Canga Antonio, Aboubakr Bensaihi.
Belgium, 2015, 95 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Adil El Arbi, Bilal Fallah.

Black is interesting in its picture of Brussels in the middle of the second decade of the 21st-century. It takes full account of the range of migrant groups who now live in the city, those from sub-Saharan Africa, those from Morocco and Northern Africa. It also shows the conditions in which they live, their lack of prospects, possibilities for change, but the forming of gangs and their reckless and ruthless behaviour towards ordinary citizens, muggings and theft.

At the core of the story and observation is the familiar Romeo and Juliet type of plot, a 15-year-old girl from the African group, with concerned mother who wants her to settle into life in Belgium, and the young Moroccan, involved with gangs.

As expected, but vividly, the gang’s activities are shown and, eventually, the clashes between the two – and a lot of this fostered by the romance between the African girl and the Moroccan boy.

While the plot developments are anticipated, it is interesting to see them so vividly in the social observations of aspects of Belgian life.

1. A portrait of aspects of Brussels? The city, the migrant groups, the gangs and their activities, the authorities?

2. The use of Brussels locations, the various districts, wealth and poverty, the central districts and the activities of the gangs? The contrast with homes and apartments? The musical score?

3. The title, indication of race issues? Africans? Moroccans?

4. Mavela as the centre of the action, age 15, her African background, her mother and her concern, reactions to her mother? Her mother trying to fit into Belgian life? Mavela’s rebelling? The activities of the gang, her relationship to the gang leaders, her place within the gang? Their loyalties, activities?

5. Scenes of the gangs in operation, muggings, stealing, police chasing, the interviews with the police, the social workers?

6. The personality of the gang leaders, the African tradition, adapting to Europe, criminal lives?

7. Marwan, in himself, with the Moroccan gangs, their activities, the personalities? The clashes with the Africans?

8. Mavela and Marwan, the meeting, the attraction, going out with each other, the consequences on each, the fine line with the other members of the gang, finding time away by themselves?

9. The violence, the consequences, the clashes, into gang fighting, the effect on Marwan, on Mavela?

10. A glimpse of gang life and warfare in Brussels in 2015?