Actress. Activist. Adversary.|Dec. 13, 2019|United Kingdom | United States|103 Min.|R
Genre: Adventure;Crime;Drama;Mystery;Thriller
Description: “Seberg” (2019) is a gripping drama that tells the story of Jean Seberg, an American actress famous for her role in Jean-Luc Godard’s film “Breathless.” The narrative begins with Seberg preparing to leave her husband, Romain Gary, and their child in Paris to travel to Los Angeles. During her first-class flight, she encounters a Black activist who insists on sitting in first class and demands preferential treatment for Malcolm X’s widow, referring to her as “royalty.” Intrigued, Seberg is drawn to the activist, who introduces himself as Hakim Jamal, a member of the Black Panther Party (BPP).
Upon arriving in the U.S., Seberg notices a group of Black activists protesting at the airport, expressing their dissatisfaction with the treatment Jamal and his companions received on the flight. In a show of solidarity, she joins the protesters and raises her fist in a Black Power salute. Unbeknownst to her, FBI agents, including Jack Solomon, are undercover at the airport. At Solomon’s suggestion, the FBI begins monitoring Seberg’s activities and taps her phone due to her perceived connection to the Black Power movement.
Seberg eventually starts a relationship with Jamal, despite his marital status. The FBI’s COINTELPRO surveillance program targets Seberg, recording her intimate moments with Jamal and presenting the evidence to his wife, Dorothy. Devastated, Jamal leaves Seberg, plunging her into emotional turmoil. As Seberg grows increasingly paranoid about being monitored, Solomon anonymously contacts her, urging her to distance herself from the movement.
Later, Seberg becomes pregnant, and the father’s identity remains unknown. The FBI fuels a media campaign suggesting the child was fathered by a BPP member, further tormenting her. Overwhelmed by the FBI’s harassment and the loss of her infant daughter, Seberg spirals into a deep depression.
“Seberg” is a poignant exploration of surveillance, activism, and the personal toll of being targeted by powerful institutions. The film sheds light on the challenges faced by those who dare to stand in solidarity with marginalized movements.
Cast director: Nicholas Mastandrea
Cast actor: Kristen Stewart, Jack O’Connell, Anthony Mackie, Margaret Qualley, Zazie Beetz, Yvan Attal, Stephen Root, Colm Meaney, Vince Vaughn, Jade Pettyjohn
Original name: Seberg