L'Etat Sauvage is based on the novel by Georges Conchon which won the highly esteemed Prix de Goncourt. The story chronicles the mindless racism of both the departing French colonial overlords and the emergent black Africans in a newly emerging African state. Laurence (Marie-Christine Barrault) suffers the outrage of her white acquaintances, including her former lover Gravenoir (Claude Brasseur) and her ex-husband Avit (Jacques Dutronc), for her affair with Patrice Doumbe (Doura Mane), an official in the new government. He in turn is ridiculed by his fellow cabinet ministers for stepping out with a white woman. The vilification escalates to such a point that Patrice is brutally murdered, and Laurence barely escapes the country alive, with the help of her ex-husband Avit.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Marie-Christine BarraultLaurence Laurençon | Laurence Laurençon |
 Claude BrasseurGravenoire | Gravenoire |
 Jacques DutroncAvit | Avit |
| DDoura ManéPatrice Doumbe | Patrice Doumbe |
 Michel PiccoliOrlaville | Orlaville |
| BBaaronModimbo | Modimbo |
| UUmban Gomez de KsetKotoko | Kotoko |
 Jean-Baptiste TiéméléGohanda | Gohanda |
 Rüdiger VoglerTristan | Tristan |
| PPeter BachelierRenard | Renard |
 Philippe BrizardPaul | Paul |
| PPierre WalkerSwiss Minister | Swiss Minister |
| MMarblum JequierSwiss Minister | Swiss Minister |
| CCeliaIrène | Irène |
 Sidiki BakabaComac | Comac |
| IIsabelle GautierWoman of Gravenoire | Woman of Gravenoire |
 Akonio DoloBoy Elie | Boy Elie |
| JJoseph MonoBoy Raoul | Boy Raoul |
 Jacques SereysPrime Minister | Prime Minister |
| AAssane FalleMinister of Youth | Minister of Youth |
| CCheik DoukouréMinister of Children's Affairs | Minister of Children's Affairs |
 Alphonse BeniMinister | Minister |
| LLazare KemmegneGuard | Guard |
 Jean-Pierre HonoréGohanda’s secretary | Gohanda’s secretary |