ZOU ZOU (1934)
Special Features: 90th Anniversary. Introduction by film historian Ina Diane Archer
Legendary Black American singer and dancer Josephine Baker found success at the Folies Bergère in Paris, along with movie stardom in French films. The enchanting Martinique-set ZOU ZOU captures Baker's unique vivacity, sense of mischief and uninhibited sexuality. As children, Zou Zou (Baker) and Jean (Jean Gabin) tour as circus twins; he later moves from sailor to stagehand, while she delivers laundry to a theater, longing to step into the spotlight. When the temperamental star storms out on opening night, Baker takes over the role and is a sensation. The final third of the film features Baker performing onstage, including her famous solo number as a caged bird in a feathery outfit wistfully singing, "Who will give me back my Haiti?" ZOU ZOU showcases Baker as a singer and exotic dancer, offering a glimpse into the more liberated portrayal of race and sexuality in French cinema. DIR Marc Allégret; SCR Carlo Rim; PROD Arys Nissotti. France, 1934, b&w, 85 min. In French with English subtitles. NOT RATED
No AFI Member passes accepted.
Preceded by:
SNOW-WHITE (1933)
When Betty Boop is proclaimed the fairest in the land, she is saved by a ghostly version of Cab Calloway. DIR Dave Fleischer; PROD Max Fleischer. U.S., 1933, b&w, 7 min. NOT RATED
Run Time: 92 Minutes
Opening Date: Friday, June 14, 2024
Genre: Comedy
