Watch Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever is a 2012 film exploring the complex intersections of race, beauty, and body image as they affect women in Zimbabwe. Directed by Ng'endo Mukii, the film is a visually stunning and thought-provoking exploration of how colorism and Western beauty standards shape the way women see themselves and each other. The film is structured around a series of interviews with women of different ages and backgrounds, each offering their own perspectives on what it means to be beautiful in their country. They speak candidly about the ways in which they have been judged and valued based on the shade of their skin, and the lengths to which they have gone - from skin bleaching creams to hair relaxers - to try to fit into an idealized notion of beauty.

But the film is not simply a litany of depressing anecdotes about women desperate to change themselves to meet some unattainable standard. Mukii uses her background in animation to create a striking visual language that weaves together the interviews with vibrant, evocative imagery. She explores the idea of a globalized beauty standard through images of mass-produced dolls and homogenized media images, and contrasts that with the vibrancy and diversity of traditional African dress and adornment.

Throughout the film, there is a palpable sense of anger and frustration at the ways in which Western beauty standards have been imposed on African women, effectively erasing the rich diversity of African cultures and identities. Yet there is also a sense of hope and resilience in the women's stories, a sense that even in the face of such overwhelming pressures, they are still finding ways to define beauty on their own terms.

One of the standout interviews in the film is with a young girl who speaks movingly about the way other children at school tease her for her dark skin. She says that she sometimes wishes she could be white, but that she's also aware that this is not a healthy or realistic way to think. It's a heartbreaking moment, but also one that shows the potential for change: by exploring the origins and consequences of colorism and beauty standards, we can begin to deconstruct and dispel them.

Overall, Yellow Fever is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film that offers a nuanced exploration of complex issues. By centering the voices and experiences of African women, it offers a powerful counter-narrative to the dominant Western beauty standard, and encourages viewers to question their own assumptions about race and beauty.

Yellow Fever is a 2012 animated movie with a runtime of 6 hours. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.