Intriguing docu-drama here, with an unfamiliar story, and one I’d very much like to see. Here’s the story:

Black Hands – Trial of the Arsonist Slave investigates… the story of Marie-Josèphe Angélique, a Black slave accused of burning Montreal in 1734. After an epic trial, this untameable slave is tortured and sentenced to death. But was she really guilty of this crime or was she the victim of a bigger conspiracy? Why this voluntary amnesia about this unknown page of Canadian history? A fascinating documentary that powerfully mixes interviews with historians and theatre re-enactments, filmed in the same style as Dogville by Lars Von Trier.

There’s a feature-length narrative film in this particular story. Don’t hold your breath though.

Produced by Bel Ange Moon Productions which was founded by sisters (and black Canadians) Tetchena Bellange and Bianca Bellange, the docudrama has played at several international film festivals since last summer, and continues to travel the festival circuit, screening next, as the opening night film, at the 9th Annual Chicago African Diaspora International Film Festival, which will be held at Facets from tomorrow, June 17 through the 23.

This will be its Chicago premiere, and both sisters will be there for a Q&A by the way.

Follow the film via its Facebook page, or on Twitter.

Watch the trailer below: