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Bahamian film focussing on homophobia opens festival
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A BAHAMIAN film telling the story of a gay man’s struggle in a fiercely homophobic society opened the Bahamas International Film Festival on Friday. About 200 Bahamians and international filmmakers attended the world premiere of Children of God at the Atlantis theatre, the first feature film written and directed by Bahamian filmmaker Kareem Mortimer.
Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette and Director of Tourism Vernice Walkine opened the sixth annual Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) and praised Mr Mortimer’s work as an admirable achievement and an art that will reveal the Bahamas to the world.
Captivating images of Eleuthera’s dramatic landscape filled the screen as the audience followed white Bahamian art student Jonny on a journey to the Family Island where he learns to embrace his homosexual nature and be true to himself despite being damned by others.
His story is intertwined with that of Christian wife and mother Lena as she drives a campaign to “Save the Bahamas” from homosexuality.
But as her crumbling marriage reveals, accepting oneself and acting on your true feelings is the only way for her, and Jonny, to find peace and live a happy life.
Their stories and their struggles are portrayed in the rich colours of stunning cinematography that gives the overall film an inspiring and optimistic hue.
Mr Mortimer said he had the idea for the film following the murders of a number of prominent gay men in Nassau as the gay community felt threatened by a serial killer and had no protection.
He received support from the BIFF residency programme last year and went on to make Children of God within 12 months.
The film took precedence at BIFF just three years after the Bahamian Plays and Films Control Board banned cinema screenings of Oscar winning Brokeback Mountain, because of the “extreme homosexuality, nudity and profanity” shown in the gay love story.
But BIFF founder and executive director Leslie Vanderpool does not require permission from the films control board to show nearly 100 films from all over the world and uses her privilege to push boundaries.
Mr Mortimer said: “We never thought we would be able to do a movie about this topic and find support, and I am just happy that people find the value in telling that story.”
Members of the cast said working with Kareem in idyllic Eleuthera was a wonderful experience.
The role of Jonny was challenging for New York actor Johnny Ferro, who initially had reservations about making his first feature film role as a gay man in a Bahamian Brokeback Mountain.
He said: “I was afraid a bit. My first reaction about playing a gay character was, ‘Do I want to start my career off that way? What does that mean?’
“But I came to the conclusion that being afraid of it is exactly why I should do it, and I think it was a terrific growing experience for me, pushing past that barrier. Sexuality is a pretty dense topic.”
Bahamian actor and US resident Van Brown who plays the compassionate Eleutheran Reverend Ritchie in the film commended Children of God for addressing the need for issues to be discussed in the open.
He said: “Growing up in the Bahamas you do everything not to be gay or not to feel those feelings, but as you grow up you realise you are all humans and the only thing we are here for is simply to just love one another.”
That was the message accepted by an audience of over 200 people who went on to enjoy an opening night reception cocktail party in the Atlantis Royal Towers Great Hall of Water with entertainment by acclaimed Bahamian singer/songwriter Ithalia Johnson.
Rose Ferguson, 57, a trust banking professional, was impressed with the film.
She said: “It was really good to see the way the whole story was depicted.
“The story line just based on how things are happening in the Bahamas.
“He looked at things that are happening to gay people and building a story around that. I think people should really see it because it opens your mind and at the end of the day we are all humans, and should not be judgmental.
“I don’t think it’s going to have a negative impact on the Bahamas at all, it will open people’s minds and show them to not be so critical of other people.”
Nassau resident David Wilkins said: “I didn’t care to see gays kissing and romancing together, but the whole film had a lot of artistic merit and I didn’t realise there were so many good actors in the Bahamas.”
Mr. Richard Herring, representative before his retirement of the Inter-American Development Bank in the Bahamas, and now a member of BIFF’s Board of Directors, thought that Child of God was “delicately and beautifully done.”
“Kareem has real talent, serious talent — I think he is going to have a wonderful future,” said Mr Herring.
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