Claire Denis revisits Africa, the setting for her celebrated first feature Chocolat, in this beautiful and haunting film, nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and co-written with writer Marie NDiaye.
In an unnamed African country, Isabelle Huppert plays Maria, who owns a coffee plantation and is fighting to keep her business together against the chaotic backdrop of a brutal civil war (her family and others like it are the “white material” of the title). Instead of fleeing, she puts her faith in a rebel leader called The Boxer (Isaach de Bankolé ), whose world has also been capsized by the conflict. But as the region becomes increasingly dangerous, Maria may be putting herself and her family in danger by attempting to weather the storm. Denis plunges the viewer into the physical and emotional turmoil of this environment to memorably powerful effect.