Watch Now - French Slavery/Time Travel Comedy "Case Départ"
The French time-travel/slavery comedy Case Départ (Back to Square One) has been released on YouTube — the entire film is now available to watch.
“The French time-travel/slavery comedy titled Case Départ, which translates as Back to Square One, opened in France last summer and was quite a hit in that country. It also caused a bit of a stir outside France, particularly here in the USA, where many people didn’t quite take to the idea of slavery being used as the basis for a comedy,” wrote Shadow and Act.
I must admit that I initially felt quite neutral about the film. However, after watching parts of it, I began to think more about the historical context behind it. I had previously read the book by John Gabriel Stedman, Narrative of a Five Years Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam (1796), and many scenes suddenly came to life in my mind.
Although the idea of traveling back to the days of slavery is original, I still have my reservations. Slavery has profoundly shaped how Black people are perceived and also how we perceive ourselves. Because of that, I believe it deserves reflection and serious consideration; it should not simply be the setting for a comedy.
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How can they make a comedy about slavery??? they should be ashamed
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. A comedy about slavery--this is no laughing matter!
ReplyDeleteThis is how low the respect is for us as descendants of slaves. They think we will go along with any garbage they throw at us. Unfortunately they have been given good reason to believe this. Nothing can be behind this film but hatred for slaves and their descendants. Nothing.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we have forgotten the French in our history. Perhaps we have forgotten our history altogether.
They tell us we need to get over it and move on. How easy that is for them to say. They know their history but they want to make our history comedy??? Is this a joke? Oh yeah. It is.
If you really want to be unique why don't you put your genius heads together and reveal where we come from IN Africa instead of degrading us every chance you get. Still making money off of us.
I remember and respect my ancestors enough to not allow Gentiles and other black people just wanting to make a dollar and have some comedic fun at our expense, to degrade what they were put through and what we continue to go through wherever descendants are all over the world. Our ancestors are our history. Leave it alone.
The French are biting off more than they can swallow bringing this garbage to America. Should have done your homework. This ain't France.
Anonymous, I am not an expert on France, but you're right France is not the US. But the US is also not France. French people from the West Indies deal differently with slavery then people from the US. It has nothing to do with disrespect. Comedy is a way to address certain issues. Maybe that’s their intention.
ReplyDelete^^^ I'm still waiting for the comedy about the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteDidn't some black guy in France get fined for making insensitive remarks about Jewish people?.
Life Is Beautiful (Italian: La vita è bella) is a comedy about the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteactually life is beautiful doesnt make fun of holocaust even though the main character may be funny. also i remember many jewish lobbies were against that movie.
ReplyDeleteanyway we must definetely respect our ancestors and history. many blacks in france, both from africa and west indies, are disgusted about this movie. of course they wont show tell you about them on tv. there has been gathering for boycott in front of theaters.
the two stupids actors don't know what pride is and are very ignorant about their own history. beside disrespecting our memory, they also put fake facts in that movie.
that's soooo shameful and sad.
i'm happy to see other people who share my view about that garbage.
by the way, it was me who made the first comment above; i just didnt know how to put a name then :)
There can be arguments on all sides of this situation. The bottom line is, this movie is not "making fun" of slavery. It is making fun of the two present-day guys who are suddenly throw into a world they have only read about. Obviously, in the end both characters are going to return with a new-found appreciation for their culture and where they come from, and who they are and what they mean to the world. There has been comedies made about religions, drugs, homosexuality, murder, etc., and they have all had their critics. At least this story looks that it has some type of positive outcome.
ReplyDeleteAnd let me point out to anyone that just jumps on the headline "French comedy about slavery" and then goes off with rhetoric....
Every time you tune into BET or MTV or Tyler Perry you are watching modern day slavery in full effect! You buy the music, dress up in the costume, and play the part. No one says anything about the shuck and jive act that splashes on the Hollywood big-screen, or on the video show. Rather, it is sought-after, embraced, and emulated by children and adults everywhere. Now thats comedy.
Sanza, Rizzo you are both right. the title is not good. It's not a comedy about slavery. A very late reply, but better late than never :)
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