After several successful cinematic works, Franco-Senegalese filmmaker Maimouna Doucouré is turning her attention to directing the inspiring life of Josephine Baker, who was honored with a place in the Pantheon last year.
Despite her young career, the filmmaker has already received some recognition. In 2017, she won the César for Best Short Film for “Mamans.” Her debut feature film “Cuties,” released in the United States, received an award at the Sundance Film Festival in August 2020 and was also a nominee for the Best First Film category at the 2021 César Awards. As for her film “Hawa,” its release is scheduled for this year on Prime Video.
Today, she wants to breathe life into Josephine Baker through a new work, for which she is responsible for the screenplay and direction. “It is both an honor to take part in this adventure […], but also a significant challenge to tackle. With this fictional work, I want to portray an artist whose journey, beauty, struggles, wounds, and humanity are of infinite richness,” declares the director. To achieve this, she will collaborate with the sons of the illustrious actress and humanist, Jean-Claude and Brian Bouillon Baker, who also express their deep honor.
A biopic on Josephine Baker deserves to be made. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1907, the famous singer, dancer, and revue leader was also heavily involved in the resistance during World War II. She was also a committed activist against racial segregation and for human rights. She fought for numerous social causes in the United States before fully dedicating herself to France, where she became a citizen after marrying Jo Bouillon in 1937. In her fight for freedom, she even adopted 12 children. As an actress, she became the first black woman to headline a film produced by a major studio at the age of 20 in the silent film “La sirène des tropiques.” She returned to the stage in 1975 at the age of 68 but sadly passed away shortly after due to a stroke. We eagerly anticipate the release of the film, with the first glimpses expected in 2023!
