Sugar Cane Alley

Rating:
Summary: de rigueur
Review: As a French major and prospective teacher of French, I ofcourse find this a valuable tool for the classroom--BUT it's so muchmore than that! Since it's so often used in the classroom people tendto neglect that this is an outstanding film, beautifully put togetherwith some memorable acting. Anyone studying West Indian literaturewill get a chance to see in full color an outstanding representationof life in colonial Caribbean. (French teachers can also note that inusing a DVD you have the advantage of switching off the subtitles formore advanced students. And certainly native speakers will appreciatethis feature.) END

Rating:
Summary: Great Post Emancipation Film
Review: The first time I saw this film was in college when our history teacher showed it to us to aide in our discussion of the post emancipation period in West Indian culture. It is one of the most dramatic and historically correct films I have ever seen. The issues dealt with reflect the concerns of the "free man". One can see the emerging importance of education in the building up of the free black community in Martinique during that period as well as the nature of black /white relationships on all levels. For anyone who desires to know more about post emancipation life in the West Indies this is your most entertaining chance. I praise this most dedicated and talented Caribbean film director for an excellent review of a most interesting period in West Indian life. This is and will always be one of my favorite films next to The Sound of Music and Schindler's List. Thanks go out to you Mr.David Omowale Franklin, my most dynamic former sociology and history teacher, for introducing me to Sugar Cane Alley.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Depiction of Caribbean Culture, not Haitian
Review: To clarify this movie takes place in Martinique, a French territory, not Haiti, the first free Black nation. I found this movie to be interesting, engaging, and realistic in it's themes. I recommend it as a required viewing for world studies high school classes and college classes on caribbean culture.