Black and White in Color

Black and White in Color (then Noirs et Blancs en couleur for the 1977 re-issue) is a French-Ivorian 1976 war film and black comedy directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud in his directorial debut. The film is set in the African theater of World War I, during the French invasion of the German colony of Kamerun. The film adopts a strong antimilitaristic point of view, and is noteworthy for ridiculing the French side even more harshly than their German counterparts.
The original French title is the first four words (the first line) of the song Le Chant du départ, a French military song.
It won the 1976 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; it was submitted to the Académie de Côte d'Ivoire, resulting in that country's first and only Oscar.
Plot
The film opens in 1915 in a remote French outpost located in the African colony of Cameroon. The French colonists, consisting of a small group of settlers, have been living a tranquil and isolated life, completely oblivious to the raging World War I happening far away in Europe. Their main preoccupation is maintaining a comfortable and leisurely existence.
One day, a French soldier named Gabriel Fouquet (played by Jean Carmet) arrives at the outpost, bringing the news of the war. The colonists, including the plantation owner De Sorgue (played by Jean Dufilho), his wife Lucie (played by Catherine Rouvel), and other colorful characters, are initially dismissive of the news, believing it to be irrelevant to their lives.
However, as the reality of the war begins to sink in, the French colonists decide to take action against the Germans, who are the colonial rulers in neighboring Togoland. They view it as an opportunity to demonstrate their patriotism and loyalty to France. The colonists gather their resources and organize a comical and misadventurous campaign against the Germans.
Led by De Sorgue and Sergeant Bosselet (played by Jacques Spiesser), the motley crew of colonists embarks on a journey through the African wilderness, encountering various obstacles and challenges along the way. They face not only the harsh conditions of the environment but also cultural clashes and misunderstandings as they interact with African tribes.
Despite their bumbling and amateurish attempts at war, the French colonists manage to cause some disruption to the Germans, leading to a series of humorous and unexpected situations. The film uses satire and irony to underscore the futility and absurdity of war and colonialism.
As the story unfolds, the colonists gradually come to realize the true nature of war and the complexities of the colonial system. The film juxtaposes the innocence and naivety of the colonists with the harsh realities of the conflict, challenging their romanticized notions of heroism and patriotism.
Cast
Jean Carmet as Sergeant Bosselet
Jacques Dufilho as Paul Rechampot
Catherine Rouvel as Marinette
Jacques Spiesser as Hubert Fresnoy
Maurice Barrier as Caprice
Benjamin Memel Atchory
Reception
John Simon described Black and White in Color as an "absolute gem". Roger Ebert gave Black and White in Color three out of a possible four stars, writing- "is fun to watch and pointed in its comments on race and colonialism" On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 6 reviews, with an average score of 7.7/10.
See also
African theatre of World War I
List of submissions to the 49th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
List of Ivorian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
External links
1976 films
1976 black comedy films
1970s war comedy-drama films
French war comedy-drama films
Ivorian comedy films
1970s French-language films
French black comedy films
Military humor in film
World War I films set in Africa
Anti-war films about World War I
Films set in Africa
Films set in Cameroon
Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award winners
Films directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud
Films produced by Jacques Perrin
Films shot in Ivory Coast
1976 directorial debut films
Films set in 1915
1976 in Ivory Coast
1970s French films
French World War I films