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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Films, Finance and Fine Arts - Kareem Mortimer
The photo seen here is of Scottish director Ian Mackenzie and myself at the 2007 Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF). I was at the festival representing my short film Float and David was in attendance with his brilliant third feature Hallam Foe starring a young Jamie Bell. This weekend at The Island House we are celebrating the third anniversary of the theatrical release of the Bahamian feature film Children of God and showing the new critically acclaimed film from David, Starred Up. Starred Up is a powerful film that turns an unflinching eye to the cruelty depicted within the fictional prison walls, while at the same time revealing hidden layers of camaraderie and hope amidst the violence. The focus is on emotional truth not stylization or glamorization. Also woven into the narrative are details about prison life that we have not often seen before, details which are revealed here with authority. Despite the tensions within the film, director David Mackenzie’s perspective is ultimately a compassionate one. Tom Davia, of the Miami International Film Festival describes Children of God as a debut narrative feature that tells the stories of three very different individuals: Lena, the conservative, deeply religious wife of a secretly gay firebrand pastor; Romeo, a handsome young black man hiding his sexuality from his close-knit and loving family; and Jonny, the conflicted and creatively-blocked white artist in search of himself. All three head for the spectacularly beautiful and tranquil island of Eleuthera, each with a different reason for escaping current circumstances. Soon, their disparate worlds collide in unexpected and affecting ways. This uncommon portrayal of love, loneliness, tolerance, secrets and self-acceptance takes viewers on a poignant multifaceted journey that is enlightening, courageous, and disquieting all at the same time, and which shocks to the very core with its startling conclusion. Children of God plays this Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 12-14th at 6:30 pm Starred Up plays from June 12th- 14th at 8:30 pm and from June 15th-18th at 7:45 pm.
Reservations
must be made at The Island House at 242.698.6300 About the author: Kareem Mortimer is an award winning filmmaker and artist who has completed several films including Children of God, Wind Jammers, Passage, Float and The Eleutheran Adventure. He is the President of the production company Best Ever Film and is the curator of the film program at The Island House Cinema, a boutique 48 seat theater in Western New Providence dedicated to showcasing the best in independent, foreign, art, Caribbean and Bahamian film. He is also in development of the feature film Cargo.
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