The Savage State (1978)
L'Etat Sauvage is based on the novel by Georges Conchon which won the highly esteemed Prix de Goncourt. The story chronicles the mindless racism of both the departing French colonial overlords and the emergent black Africans in a newly emerging African state. Laurence (Marie-Christine Barrault) suffers the outrage of her white acquaintances, including her former lover Gravenoir (Claude Brasseur) and her ex-husband Avit (Jacques Dutronc), for her affair with Patrice Doumbe (Doura Mane), an official in the new government. He in turn is ridiculed by his fellow cabinet ministers for stepping out with a white woman. The vilification escalates to such a point that Patrice is brutally murdered, and Laurence barely escapes the country alive, with the help of her ex-husband Avit.
Director: Francis Girod
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Marie-Christine Barrault as Laurence Laurençon |
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Claude Brasseur as Gravenoire |
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Jacques Dutronc as Avit |
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Doura Mané as Patrice Doumbe |
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Michel Piccoli as Orlaville |
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Baaron as Modimbo |
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Umban Gomez de Kset as Kotoko |
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Jean-Baptiste Tiémélé as Gohanda |
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Rüdiger Vogler as Tristan |
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Peter Bachelier as Renard |
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Philippe Brizard as Paul |
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Pierre Walker as Swiss Minister |
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Marblum Jequier as Swiss Minister |
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Celia as Irène |
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Sidiki Bakaba as Comac |
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Isabelle Gautier as Woman of Gravenoire |
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Akonio Dolo as Boy Elie |
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Joseph Mono as Boy Raoul |
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Jacques Sereys as Prime Minister |
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Assane Falle as Minister of Youth |
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Cheik Doukouré as Minister of Children's Affairs |
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Alphonse Beni as Minister |
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Lazare Kemmegne as Guard |
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Jean-Pierre Honoré as Gohanda’s secretary |
| Production | Michel Piccoli | Producer |
| Production | Francis Girod | Producer |
| Camera | Pierre Lhomme | Director of Photography |
| Art | Jean-Jacques Caziot | Production Design |
| Writing | Francis Girod | Writer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Jacques Fonteray | Costume Design |
| Editing | Geneviève Winding | Editor |
| Sound | Pierre Jansen | Original Music Composer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Eric Muller | Makeup Artist |
| Sound | William Robert Sivel | Sound |
| Costume & Make-Up | Corinne Jorry | Costume Design |
| Writing | Georges Conchon | Writer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Françoise Monico | Costume Design |
| Directing | Francis Girod | Director |