PHILIPSBURG–Award winning movie “Joebell and America” will have its St. Maarten premiere at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library on Monday, May 29, at 7:30pm. Director Asha Lovelace will be on hand to discuss the feature film with movie lovers, said St. Martin Book Fair coordinator Shujah Reiph.
The screening is an “exciting highlight” of the week-long pre-Book Fair activities, said Jacqueline Sample of House of Nehesi Publisher (HNP), which is the co-organizer of the literary festival.
“As a director trying to capture the essence of the story…I’m interested in developing a Caribbean aesthetic,” said filmmaker Lovelace about making movies. In Joebell and America that is exactly what she manages to do in the award-winning movie she directed and produced in her native Trinidad and Tobago, according to writer Chelsea Rampaul.
In Joebell and America, lead character Joebell (played by Brian Green), is a gambler. He is in trouble with the law and concocts a risky plan to escape Trinidad for the promise and fantasy of a better future in America. He is prepared to leave everything behind including his newfound romance with the village beauty, according to caribbeanfilm.com.
Joebell and America has its own literary beginnings. It is based on the short story by the same name, written by Asha’s father, the noted novelist Earl Lovelace. The movie won “Best International Narrative Feature” from the Women’s International Film Festival.
Along with Joebell and America, the Book Fair’s early bird activities – starting on May 25 – include an outdoor poetry reading; the launch of six books; an expert discussion on electoral reform; a closed-door critique of a St. Maarten historical play in its draft form and a curated book cover art exhibit related to St. Maarten (1978 to 2017) at Sheer Restaurant Gallery, said Sample.
Lovelace, who is also a University of the West Indies lecturer, will give a filmmaking workshop at the 15th anniversary of the St. Martin Book Fair, June 1-3, said Reiph.
The St. Martin Book Fair opens at Cité Scolaire Robert Weinum on Thursday, June 1, at 8:00pm, said Reiph. The auditorium of the new High School/Jr. High School complex located in La Savanne between Rambaud and Grand Case will be turned into a virtual art gallery/studio to match the festival’s “Art” theme.
The main book fair workshops, open-mic readings, book sales and book signings by famous, new and upcoming writers takes place on Saturday, June 3, at University of St. Martin (USM).
Conscious Lyrics Foundation and HNP are organizing the 15th annual St. Martin Book Fair in collaboration with St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, USM and L.C. Fleming Foundation, along with SOS radio 95.9 FM, Peridot Foundation and Irie Life.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/65942-joebell-and-america-on-screen-at-library
View comments
Hide comments