#1313: HONDO, Med: West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty (1979)

HONDO, Med (France)
West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty [1979]
Spine #1313
4K


Mauritanian French firebrand Med Hondo puts colonialism itself on trial in this one-of-a-kind musical spectacular—a collective effort of unprecedented scale and ambition that proved a watershed event in African cinema. Aboard an enormous mock slave ship, Hondo stages a series of imaginative reenactments and intricately choreographed dance numbers that trace the devastating effects of French imperialism across centuries of enslavement and injustice. Beyond mere extravaganza, West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty is a stirring call to Pan-African independence and a dazzling yet critical reconception of an entire people’s history of oppression and rebellion.

116 minutes
Monaural
Color
in French
1:85:1
Criterion Release 2026

Director/Writer

Med Hondo was 43 when he directed West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty.

Other Hondo films in the Collection:


The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Commentary

Video tribute

Documentary 1

Documentary 2

Documentary 3

Controversial altered ending

Theatrical trailer


Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

99

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