Crime.Drama.Politics – all part of this must see movie, The Gang of the French Caribbean. The film recently showcased at the Cinepolis Chelsea Cinema, NYC. As the centerpiece screening for the African Diaspora International Film Festival, project support includes the Guadeloupe Islands Office of Tourism, and norwegian.com.
The film is a loosely adapted autobiography by Loic Lery, a member of the gang of the Caribbean that became infamous in the 1970s. In the movie, Jimmy Lariviere attempts survival with his young daughter on the mean streets of France after being seduced to the country from Guadalupe by the government promise of a better life through education and employment (BUMIFOM). The promises turn out to be lies. To survive on the streets, Lariviere joins a group of idealistic criminals who make their anti-government statement by robbing post offices. Losing his sense of self, and fearing for his own life and the safety of his daughter, he briefly returns to Guadeloupe to review his earlier life with his Mother.
Finding no answers at his birthplace he returns to France, accepts the life of violence, and betrayals, takes a gun and fights ruthlessly for money and survival. The struggle ends with a jail sentence. The happy ending to the tragic story is the fact that incarceration gives Lariviere time to read and to write and helped him to recover a life that was basically honest and fulfilling.
Currently Lery is a nursing assistant at the CHU in Fort-de-France (Martinique) and was a consultant for the film adapted from his book.Aujourd’hui aide-soignant au CHU de Fort-de-France (Martinique), il est également consultant pour le film adapté de son livre.
Jean-Cluade Barny, the film director, originally from Guadeloupe and Trinidad & Tobago, currently lives in France. Hip Hop artist and social activist, Talib Kweli participated in the movie soundtrack. The project was produced by Les Films d’Ici in collaboration with Special Touch Studios and Lizland Films.
Willy Monfret, Brand Manager for Guadeloupe, attended the event to support Jean Claude Barny, the movie director.
Contents may not be republished or reposted without permission of author, Dr Elinor Garely. [email protected]
