Director's Future Fairytale: 'Steal Away' Blurs Past and Present

Director Clement Virgo describes "Steal Away" as his most ambitious film to date, a futuristic fairytale that reimagines America's past. The movie deliberately avoids direct depictions of enslaved people, opting instead to explore themes of coming-of-age, psychosexual thrillers, and Afrofuturism.

Set in a reimagined 19th-century Belgium with futuristic elements, the film follows Cécile, an African traveler, and Fanny. Fanny's home and family seem to offer freedom, but hidden secrets and Fanny's obsession lead to escalating tension.

Virgo uses Afrofuturism, with extravagant costumes and suggestions of a Black-led world power, to blur historical periods and power dynamics. He connects past oppressions, like slavery and colonialism, to contemporary issues, noting that history often rhymes.

The film also reflects Virgo's evolving outlook on societal progress. He questions if progress is ever permanent, acknowledging the cyclical nature of advancement and reaction throughout history. This underlying question guides "Steal Away."