''Black Jesus'' ( it, Seduto alla sua destra, lit. "Sitting to his right") is a 1968 Italian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

co-written and directed by

Valerio Zurlini Valerio Zurlini (19 March 1926 – 26 October 1982) was an Italian film director, stage director and screenwriter. Biography During his law studies in Rome, he started working in the theatre. In 1943, he joined the Italian resistance. Zurlin ...

and starring

Woody Strode Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode (July 25, 1914 – December 31, 1994) was an American athlete and actor. He was a decathlete and football star who was one of the first Black American players in the National Football League in the postwar era. Aft ...

. It is inspired by the finals days of the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Patrice Lumumba Patrice Émery Lumumba (; 2 July 1925 – 17 January 1961) was a Congolese politician and independence leader who served as the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as the Republic of the Congo) from June u ...

. It was listed to compete at the

1968 Cannes Film Festival The 21st Cannes Film Festival was to have been held from 10 to 24 May 1968, before being curtailled due to the turmoil of May 1968 in France. Background This edition was marked by the previous controversy around the Langlois affair. On February ...

, but the festival was cancelled due to the

May 1968 events in France Beginning in May 1968, a period of civil unrest occurred throughout France, lasting some seven weeks and punctuated by demonstrations, general strikes, as well as the occupation of universities and factories. At the height of events, which ...

Synopsis

Rebel Maurice Lalubi is arrested by the military on trumped up charges and tortured, which turns him into a martyr. Inspired by the final days of the first democratic Congolese leader, Patrice Lumumba.

Cast

as Maurice Lalubi *

Franco Citti Franco Citti (; 23 April 1935 – 14 January 2016) was an Italian actor, best known as one of the close collaborators of director Pier Paolo Pasolini. He came to fame for playing the title role in Pasolini's film ''Accattone'', which brought hi ...

as Oreste *

Jean Servais Jean Servais (; 24 September 1910 – 17 February 1976) was a Belgian film and stage actor. He acted in many 20th century French cinema productions, from the 1930s through the early 1970s. He was married to Gilberte Graillot, and later act ...

as Commander *

Pier Paolo Capponi Pier Paolo Capponi (9 June 1938 – 15 February 2018) was an Italian actor and screenwriter. Life and career Born in Subiaco, after his studies Capponi attended a theater school and later was chosen by director Vittorio De Seta for an import ...

as Officer * Stephen Forsyth as Prisoner (as Stephen Forsyth) * Luciano Lorcas as Sergent (as Luciano Lorcas) * Salvatore Basile (as Salvo Basile) * Giuseppe Transocchi * Silvio Fiore * Renzo Rossi * Mirella Pamphili (as Mirella Panfili) *

Bruno Corazzari Bruno Corazzari (born 30 December 1940) is an Italian film, television and stage actor. Life and career Born in Castellarano, Reggio Emilia, Corazzari started his career in the second half of the sixties, playing minor roles in a number of S ...

as Torturer (uncredited) * Inigo Lezzi as Soldier (uncredited)

References

External links

* 1968 films 1968 drama films Italian drama films 1960s Italian-language films Films directed by Valerio Zurlini Films set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1960s Italian films {{1960s-drama-film-stub