

Becoming Black
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.
TMDB
6.0/10
2 votes
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- German
- berlin, germany
- biography
- afro-german
- togo
- black perspective
Top billed cast
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Gallery



Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereNew African Film Festival, Silver Spring, MD16 Mar 2020
GermanyDE
- PremiereInternationales Frauenfilmfestival9 Sept 2020
- TVZDF6 Oct 2020
NetherlandsNL
- Theatrical (limited)World Premiere @ IDFA - International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam9 Oct 2019
Frequently asked questions
- When was Becoming Black released?
- Becoming Black was released on 9 October 2019.
- Where can I watch Becoming Black online?
- Becoming Black is available on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube in US. Use the Watch now links in the Where to watch section for official pages.
- Is there a Hindi trailer for Becoming Black?
- No verified Hindi trailer for Becoming Black is available yet. Only the original-language trailer is listed.
- What is the rating of Becoming Black?
- Becoming Black holds a 6.0/10 audience score from 2 votes.
- Who directed Becoming Black?
- Becoming Black (2019) was directed by Ines Johnson-Spain.
- How long is Becoming Black?
- Becoming Black runs for 1h 31m.












