CinemaOSMovie · 2019 · 1h 31m

Becoming Black

60%(2)IMDbDocumentary

In the 1960s, a white couple living in East Germany tells their dark-skinned child that her skin color is merely a coincidence. As a teenager, she accidentally discovers the truth. Years before, a group of African men came to study in a village nearby. Sigrid, an East German woman, fell in love with Lucien from Togo and became pregnant. But she was already married to Armin. The child is Togolese-East German filmmaker Ines Johnson-Spain. In interviews with Armin and others from her childhood years, she tracks the astonishing strategies of denial her parents, striving for normality, developed following her birth. What sounds like fieldwork about social dislocation becomes an autobiographical essay film and a reflection on themes such as identity, social norms and family ties, viewed from a very personal perspective.

Directed byInes Johnson-Spain

Play
Status
Released
Runtime
1h 31m
Language
DE
Released
October 9, 2019
Studios
ZDFKobalt Productions

Featuring

Cast & crew

10 credited
Starring

Ines Johnson-Spain

Self

Armin Gundermann

Self

Madeleine Papangou Johnson

Self

Germaine Papangou Johnson

Self

Geneviève Papangou Johnson

Self

Irène Papangou Johnson

Self

Christel Anders

Self

Werner Anders

Self

Rosi Judisch

Self

Christophe Kuessi Johnson

Self

Creative team
Directed by
Ines Johnson-Spain
Written by
Ines Johnson-Spain
Produced by
Anahita Nazemi

Keep watching

More like this

Partition Libre - Sur Les Traces De Patrick Berhault10.0

Partition Libre - Sur Les Traces De Patrick Berhault

2019 · Film

Frank Sinatra Memorial

Frank Sinatra Memorial

2000 · Film

Leonardo Da Vinci The Tragic Pursuit of Perfection7.0

Leonardo Da Vinci The Tragic Pursuit of Perfection

1953 · Film

Belmondo: The Incorrigible7.8

Belmondo: The Incorrigible

2022 · Film

Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire6.5

Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire

1991 · Film

Berlin: Symphony of a Great City7.5

Berlin: Symphony of a Great City

1927 · Film

Grizzly Man7.5

Grizzly Man

2005 · Film

Mac Dre: Legend of the Bay8.0

Mac Dre: Legend of the Bay

2015 · Film

Francisco Brennand5.5

Francisco Brennand

2012 · Film

Carterland

Carterland

2021 · Film

They Wore The Red Suit10.0

They Wore The Red Suit

2013 · Film

SLAY: The Axell Hodges Story

SLAY: The Axell Hodges Story

2017 · Film

Bratříček Karel8.0

Bratříček Karel

2016 · Film

Robert Capa: In Love and War7.5

Robert Capa: In Love and War

2003 · Film

Rafael França: obra como testamento

Rafael França: obra como testamento

2001 · Film

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson7.1

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson

2017 · Film

Gilbert6.7

Gilbert

2017 · Film

Whitney: Can I Be Me6.6

Whitney: Can I Be Me

2017 · Film

There is No Death For Me8.5

There is No Death For Me

2000 · Film

Picked for you

Recommended movies

Berlin: Symphony of a Great City7.5

Berlin: Symphony of a Great City

1927 · Film

Anselm6.6

Anselm

2023 · Film

As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty7.8

As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty

2000 · Film

Heart of a Dog6.5

Heart of a Dog

2015 · Film

Eldorado: Everything the Nazis Hate7.1

Eldorado: Everything the Nazis Hate

2023 · Film

Come See Me in the Good Light7.2

Come See Me in the Good Light

2025 · Film

My Mom Jayne8.0

My Mom Jayne

2025 · Film

28 Up7.5

28 Up

1984 · Film

Cameraperson6.7

Cameraperson

2016 · Film

O.J.: Made in America8.4

O.J.: Made in America

2016 · Film

Maria by Callas7.4

Maria by Callas

2017 · Film

They'll Love Me When I'm Dead7.1

They'll Love Me When I'm Dead

2018 · Film

I Am Heath Ledger7.4

I Am Heath Ledger

2017 · Film

John Candy: I Like Me7.8

John Candy: I Like Me

2025 · Film

Salinger6.4

Salinger

2013 · Film

Fuck6.4

Fuck

2006 · Film

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction6.9

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction

2013 · Film

Being James Bond7.8

Being James Bond

2021 · Film

Room 2376.1

Room 237

2012 · Film

Sidney6.9

Sidney

2022 · Film