Children of God (2009 film)
Encyclopedia
Children of God is a 2010 Bahamian romantic drama film by director and screenwriter Kareem Mortimer
. It tells the story of two young Bahamian men who fall in love with each other and portrays the homophobia
of the Bahamian society. The film also deals with themes of bisexuality
, romantic drama film.
It is one of the first feature narratives from the Caribbean
to address homosexuality
. It was the opening night film of the Bahamas International Film Festival
. The Bahamas had banned the film Brokeback Mountain
in 2006. The film made its International Premiere at the Miami International Film Festival
and have premiered at over 100 film festivals around the world winning 17 awards. Children of God was named one of the top ten films of 2010 on BET.COM.
to focus on his work and find his voice. But first he finds Romeo (Stephen Tyrone Williams), a handsome, self-confident guy who shows Jonny the scenic spots… and a bit more. Romeo’s got a girlfriend, however, as well as a blustery mother who willfully ignores any clue or hint he drops to set her straight.
Meanwhile, Lena (Margaret Laurena Kemp), a pastor’s wife has also made her way to this distant spot to contemplate her future in relative calm. Tired of her husband spouting high-and-mighty, anti-gay rhetoric at rallies, while refusing to own up to the cruelty and contradictions in his private life, Lena has a decision to make.
Children of God" is the religious expression used by Christians to refer to human divinity as being all God's Children. Four Bahamian individuals who set out on a journey from the frenetic energy of Nassau to the slower-paced and open Eleuthera. The year is 2004 when the Caribbean world is rocked by the emergence of Rosie O'Donnell's gay family cruise ship. Actual documentary footage details the mass hysteria that divides the Caribbean as some fundamentalists lead widespread rallies. Jonny, a young obsessive-compulsive suicidal white Bahamian artist, faces losing his scholarship at a local University if he does not live up to the potential his professors believe he has. Jonny escapes from his gritty inner-city life in Nassau to the under populated and dramatic Bahamian island of Eleuthera. Here he decides to paint his 'masterpiece' and then kill himself. Lena Mackey is an extremely conservative forty year old anti-gay activist who upon finding out that her husband is not who he represents himself to be. She believes that the only way to fix problems in her life is to limit the rights of homosexuals. She heads to Eleuthera for the purpose of galvanizing the community to oppose gay rights. When Jonny arrives he and Lena paths cross and together these two embark on a series of physical and emotional adventures that not only inspire Jonny to paint but gives him a new zest for life.
in March 2010, It had a limited theatrical beginning May 20th in New York and Miami. Children of God went on to premiere on the Showtime television network on June 2nd and the DVD was released on June 7th through TLA Releasing
.
Kareem Mortimer
Kareem Mortimer is a Bahamian filmmaker that has completed several films: Chance , The Eleutheran Adventure , Float , Children of God and Wind Jammers .- THEMES :...
. It tells the story of two young Bahamian men who fall in love with each other and portrays the homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
of the Bahamian society. The film also deals with themes of bisexuality
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
, romantic drama film.
It is one of the first feature narratives from the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
to address homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. It was the opening night film of the Bahamas International Film Festival
Bahamas International Film Festival
Bahamas International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in early December in the Bahamas, founded in 2004.The Bahamas International Film Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films...
. The Bahamas had banned the film Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee. It is a film adaptation of the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx with the screenplay written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry...
in 2006. The film made its International Premiere at the Miami International Film Festival
Miami International Film Festival
The Miami International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Miami, Florida in the late winter. The film festival is sponsored by the Miami Film Society, which has been around since 1983....
and have premiered at over 100 film festivals around the world winning 17 awards. Children of God was named one of the top ten films of 2010 on BET.COM.
Plot
Jonny (Johnny Ferro), an awkward painting student, is “banished” by his instructor to the remote island of EleutheraEleuthera
Eleuthera is an island in The Bahamas, lying 50 miles east of Nassau. It is very long and thin—110 miles long and in places little more than a mile wide. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Eleuthera is approximately 8,000...
to focus on his work and find his voice. But first he finds Romeo (Stephen Tyrone Williams), a handsome, self-confident guy who shows Jonny the scenic spots… and a bit more. Romeo’s got a girlfriend, however, as well as a blustery mother who willfully ignores any clue or hint he drops to set her straight.
Meanwhile, Lena (Margaret Laurena Kemp), a pastor’s wife has also made her way to this distant spot to contemplate her future in relative calm. Tired of her husband spouting high-and-mighty, anti-gay rhetoric at rallies, while refusing to own up to the cruelty and contradictions in his private life, Lena has a decision to make.
Children of God" is the religious expression used by Christians to refer to human divinity as being all God's Children. Four Bahamian individuals who set out on a journey from the frenetic energy of Nassau to the slower-paced and open Eleuthera. The year is 2004 when the Caribbean world is rocked by the emergence of Rosie O'Donnell's gay family cruise ship. Actual documentary footage details the mass hysteria that divides the Caribbean as some fundamentalists lead widespread rallies. Jonny, a young obsessive-compulsive suicidal white Bahamian artist, faces losing his scholarship at a local University if he does not live up to the potential his professors believe he has. Jonny escapes from his gritty inner-city life in Nassau to the under populated and dramatic Bahamian island of Eleuthera. Here he decides to paint his 'masterpiece' and then kill himself. Lena Mackey is an extremely conservative forty year old anti-gay activist who upon finding out that her husband is not who he represents himself to be. She believes that the only way to fix problems in her life is to limit the rights of homosexuals. She heads to Eleuthera for the purpose of galvanizing the community to oppose gay rights. When Jonny arrives he and Lena paths cross and together these two embark on a series of physical and emotional adventures that not only inspire Jonny to paint but gives him a new zest for life.
Cast
- Johnny Ferro as Jonny Roberts
- Margaret Laurena Kemp as Lena Mackey
- Stephen Tyrone Williams as Romeo Fernander
- Van Brown as Reverend Clyde Ritchie
- Mark Richard Ford as Ralph Mackey
- Craig Pinder as Mike Roberts
- Sylvia Adams as Grammy Rose
- Aijalon Coley as Omar Mackey
- Jay Lance Gotlieb as Angry Driver
- Jason Elwood Hanna as Purple
- Christopher Herrod as Dr. Mark Wells
- Juanita Kelly as Lonnette Adderley
- Adela Osterloh as Romeo's Mother
- Leslie Vanderpool as Rhoda Mackey
- Christine Wilson as Anna Ross
- Conrad Knowles, Romeo's true friend
Release
Children of God made its International Premiere at the Miami International Film FestivalMiami International Film Festival
The Miami International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Miami, Florida in the late winter. The film festival is sponsored by the Miami Film Society, which has been around since 1983....
in March 2010, It had a limited theatrical beginning May 20th in New York and Miami. Children of God went on to premiere on the Showtime television network on June 2nd and the DVD was released on June 7th through TLA Releasing
TLA Releasing
TLA Releasing is a US film distribution company owned by TLA Entertainment Group. In March 2011, a new LLC was formed for the operation. Its primary output is LGBT-related films from all over the world under the "TLA Releasing" label, as well as horror films under the label "Danger After Dark"...
.