The Body Beautiful
Synopsis
This bold, stunning exploration of a white mother who undergoes a radical mastectomy and her Black daughter who embarks on a modeling career reveals the profound effects of body image and the strain of racial and sexual identity on their charged, intensely loving bond. At the heart of Onwurah’s brave excursion into her mother’s scorned sexuality is a provocative interweaving of memory and fantasy. The filmmaker plumbs the depths of maternal strength and daughterly devotion in an unforgettable tribute starring her real-life mother, Madge Onwurah.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Madge Onwurah
Narrator (voice) Mother/Herself
Rosie Rowell
Narrator (voice) Daughter
Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre
The Daughter (as Sian Martin)
Brian Bovell
Young Man
Maureen Douglass
Young Mother
Valentine Nonyela
Peter
Louis Altinson
Linda Dobson
Richard Gray
Haley McKay
Michael McKay
Nina McKay
Saffron Burrows
Model
Nadja Carr
Model
Ann Parks
Model
Jane Yeomans
Model
Novlet
Model
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ngozi Onwurah
- Screenplay & Story
- Ngozi Onwurah
- Original Score
- Jonathon Hirst, Anthony Quigley
- Original Title
- The Body Beautiful
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 25m
- Production Studios
- BFI
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ngozi Onwurah
Ngozi Onwurah
Jonathon Hirst, Anthony Quigley
Peter Collis
Liz Webber
Lin Solomon, Simon Onwurah, Kate Ogborn, Ben Gibson
Department Leadership Roster
Ngozi Onwurah
Director
Lin Solomon
Producer
Ngozi Onwurah
Writer
Simon Onwurah
Producer
Liz Webber
Editor
Peter Collis
Director of Photography
Jonathon Hirst
Original Music Composer
Anthony Quigley
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Body Beautiful.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Body Beautiful.
Textless Posters I Like by Kerstin
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Body Beautiful
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Body Beautiful about?
This bold, stunning exploration of a white mother who undergoes a radical mastectomy and her Black daughter who embarks on a modeling career reveals the profound effects of body image and the strain of racial and sexual identity on their charged, intensely loving bond. At the heart of Onwurah’s brave excursion into her mother’s scorned sexuality is a provocative interweaving of memory and fantasy. The filmmaker plumbs the depths of maternal strength and daughterly devotion in an unforgettable tribute starring her real-life mother, Madge Onwurah.
Who directed The Body Beautiful?
The Body Beautiful was directed by Ngozi Onwurah.
Who stars in The Body Beautiful?
The principal cast of The Body Beautiful includes Madge Onwurah, Rosie Rowell, Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, Brian Bovell, Maureen Douglass.
When was The Body Beautiful released and how long is it?
The Body Beautiful was released in 1991 with a total runtime of 25m.
Who composed the musical score for The Body Beautiful?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Body Beautiful was composed by Jonathon Hirst, Anthony Quigley.