The Savage State

1h 52min

Drama

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.

Production Companies

Stella Films

Gaumont

Films 66

Cast

Marie-Christine Barrault

Marie-Christine Barrault

Laurence Laurençon
Claude Brasseur

Claude Brasseur

Gravenoire
Doura Mané

Doura Mané

Patrice Doumbe
Baaron

Baaron

Modimbo
Pierre Walker

Pierre Walker

Swiss Minister
Marblum Jequier

Marblum Jequier

Swiss Minister
Celia

Celia

Irène
Isabelle Gautier

Isabelle Gautier

Woman of Gravenoire
Akonio Dolo

Akonio Dolo

Boy Elie
Joseph Mono

Joseph Mono

Boy Raoul
Jacques Sereys

Jacques Sereys

Prime Minister
Assane Falle

Assane Falle

Minister of Youth
Cheik Doukouré

Cheik Doukouré

Minister of Children's Affairs
Jean-Pierre Honoré

Jean-Pierre Honoré

Gohanda’s secretary

Release date

18th Apr 1978

Status

Released

Spoken languages

Français