Film: Children Of God
Year of production: 2010
UK Release date: 21st March 2011
Distributor: TLA
Certificate: 15
Running time: 104 mins
Director: Kareem Mortimer
Starring: Van Brown, Johnny Ferro, Mark Ford, Margaret Kemp, Stephen Tyrone
Genre: Drama
Format: DVD
Country of Production: Bahamas
Language: English
Review by: Alice Instone-Brewer
Children Of God is the narrative feature film debut from director Kareem Mortimer, whose previous works have either been documentaries or shorts. Like much of Mortimer's work, Children Of God investigates issues of homosexuality, society and acceptance, and expands upon the narrative of Float, a short that Mortimer directed three years ealier. Set in the Caribbean, starting in Mortimer's home of Nassau, this is a very personal work from the director and the first narrative feature out of the Caribbean to ever deal with GBLT themes.
The film follows the interconnecting stories of several Bahamian locals, all leaving their home of Nassau to find peace or answers in calmer, beautiful Eleuthera. The story is set in 2004, when the arrival of a gay family cruise ship stirred up protests and controversy amongst the right-wing population of the Caribbean. Real footage and sound clips are used to give the audience this context and drive home the severity of people's reactions to the ship. The impact is shocking.
Amongst this wave of campaigns to protect their land against "sissies,” a young, white, gay painter called Jonny is told he'll lose his art scholarship if his painting doesn't improve. To inspire him, his teacher lends him her house in Eleuthra, telling him that a journey will help him find himself. What he finds is Romeo, a popular, black, outgoing Bahamian that used to bully him at school. They strike up a secret friendship, as the two of them try to encourage each other, in their own ways, to accept who they are. Meanwhile, the highly religious, conservative couple that speak out on TV against homosexuals, Lena and Ralph Mackey, hit rocky ground when Lena finds out that they have an STD. To regain a sense of control, she heads to Eleuthra to take a petition against gay rights, attempting to stay in denial about her husband's secret life…
Children Of God is a sensitively made piece of work that deals with strong moral issues of religion and acceptance, whilst successfully avoiding the trap of seeming heavy-handed or preachy. Well acted, well scripted and stunningly shot, it is a very strong narrative debut for Mortimer, as well as a successful tool for addressing the equality issues that the director has focused on throughout his career. Born in Nassau and having had his own journey to Eleuthra (documented in Eleutheran Adventure), this piece has a lot of its writer/director in it. It seems as if his catalogue of work up to this point has culminated in this film, and the quality it is executed to reflects this.
Shot in the Bahamas, this really is a beautiful film to look at. Ian Bloom makes the most of the location's sunny weather, both by using and reflecting it creatively, as well as contrasting with it. The film's most iconic scene is shot in the dark; in such a brightly lit location, the use of dark instantly picks the scene out to be noticed. Close-up shots are also frequently used, capturing and framing the conflicts and emotions on every character's face, or drawing in during secret, intimate moments. In the most enchanting scene of the movie, and the DVD cover shot, the two men shyly dance with each other to no music. Close-ups are used artistically and emotively, softly tracing the shapes of the men’s arms and backs, a face resting against a neck, etc., in such a way that makes the audience hold its breath and feel the significance of every slight, shy touch. A soft golden light in the darkness picks out their shapes and achieves something very delicate and easy to get wrong; the scene does not feel invasive, or cheaply erotic, but instead is something meaningful. Though it's the most visually memorable scene, however, it does not leave the rest of the film behind in the dust - this is a consistently aesthetic work.
This drama could not have worked without talented writing and an equally talented cast to carry it out. Though often very separate, the two plotlines run alongside each other without conflict - neither feels like a disruption to our viewing of the other one. They're both equally engaging and thought provoking, and there are some lines in both that hit home hard and stick in the mind. For example, Romeo's disappointed mother lamenting, "I wish it was only a drug problem.” Every member of the cast pulls their weight and gives a strong performance, despite many of them being relatively new or unknown actors. Stephen Tyrone Williams does an excellent job as the charismatic Romeo, bringing a depth to the role, whilst actor Johnny Ferro pushes his silent acting as the pensive Jonny. Margaret Laurena Kemp and Mark Ford are both convincing as the Mackeys, putting a human face on the antagonists, and Van Brown is memorable as the reverend. In fiction, religious figures usually either represent the writers' negative view of the church, or they speak for the writer's voice, a.k.a. they are the voice of reason and wisdom. Rvd Ritchie is the latter, speaking sanity that the characters around him sadly do not listen to. His frustration as he tries to share his ignored message of love represents Mortimer's own frustration growing up in the Caribbean.
Like the cast, and in fact the writer/director, the composer - Nathan Mathew David - has only been working in film for a few years. His tentative, emotive score accompanies the gentle use of shaky handcam to pick up on the fragility of the characters. This very quiet, subdued score plays in contrast with the frequent use of loud, confident Bahamian music; symbolic of the contrast between the characters' private feelings, and the loud, opinionated world in which they live
The only criticism can be directed towards the ending. Without giving any spoilers, the tragic turn seems forced, as though the film felt it needed one last, dramatic blow in order to be serious and significant. After what was already a very powerful film from start to finish, this tragedy for tragedy's sake is both predictable and unnecessary. It does at least result from the behaviour of one of the main characters, following the ancient Greek rule that tragedy should stem from a character's own mistakes, and it does tie in with the wider actions of others. Yet, the connection’s tentative and unsatisfactory. Too bitterly ironic - a Terry Gilliam boot out of the sky. In a way, it sold the rest of the script short by implying it needed this sort of conclusion.
Children Of God is a powerful drama, dealing with human characters that will appeal to more than just the homosexual community and equality activists. It is a strong addition to the TLA Releasing catalogue, and though it's probably not about to change many people's minds on these issues over in the West, it is a moving insight into life in the Caribbean, and will hopefully reach beyond TLA's usual audience. As for the Caribbean itself, who knows; perhaps we will start to see ripples. AIB
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