The Cast of the film, Vigilante...The Crossing..Step By Step Productions, Producer, Dave Weekes, Marcia Weekes, Director (Photography by Yougnesse Williams) |
Writer, Producer Dave Weekes, Director, Marcia Weekes Vigilante...The Crossing |
The film chronicles the struggles of ex-con Dexter Gooding who makes a radical change from egocentric violent criminal to an island version of Shaft in order to help his community which is now plagued with nightly shootings, robbery, sexual assault, police brutality and political corruption. Yes... we have seen all of these things before in Caribbean films. However, the exhibition of racism and prejudice by a wealthy Caucasian family towards members of Dexter's community is something brand new for the audience to ponder. The film also does not shy away from taboo... rich white privileged girl meets handsome, big, black, gun-toting gangster and causes rich white family sleepless nights.
In addition to the wonderful acting from a very talented
cast, I found it delightful to see Caucasian actors speaking with authentic
Bajan accents. These accents were not acquired with the assistance of a dialect
coach; the actors are official Bajans. Weekes delves into a topic that is not
discussed or acknowledged in the Caribbean to the extent that it is in the
United States. Weekes manifests room for much needed dialogue about race and
class issues in the Caribbean, which ultimately are as destructive there as it
is in the United States.
What I enjoyed most about the film was watching Dexter, a young
man who enjoyed reigning terror in his community in the past redeem himself by now picking up arms and
putting his life on the line to defend this same community against the new
ruthless crime boss and his henchmen. And though I would have loved to see some
scenes in the film where the white sand beaches and pristine turquoise waters
were featured, I respect Weekes' decision to have the audience view Barbados
and the Caribbean in general as more than just a great spot to vacation, work
on a fabulous tan and limbo on the dance floor of a swanky Americanized resort.
In Vigilante...The Crossing, the people of the Caribbean were real characters with complex personalities, complicated relationships and souls. Weekes' film fills a void in an industry where many mainstream films shot in the Caribbean tend to feature Caucasian characters only and the people of the islands are just waiters, maids, valets, pretty ornaments wearing bikinis on the beach or simply invisible. Vigilante...The Crossing is adamant in giving the people of the island strength and a prominent voice!
In Vigilante...The Crossing, the people of the Caribbean were real characters with complex personalities, complicated relationships and souls. Weekes' film fills a void in an industry where many mainstream films shot in the Caribbean tend to feature Caucasian characters only and the people of the islands are just waiters, maids, valets, pretty ornaments wearing bikinis on the beach or simply invisible. Vigilante...The Crossing is adamant in giving the people of the island strength and a prominent voice!
The film was shot on location in Barbados in 26 days. The
Bajan Board of Tourism was a strong supporter of the production. 13 members of
the cast flew all the way from Barbados to Los Angeles for the world premiere
of the film Vigilante and adorned the red carpet with Bajan style and wonderful
accents. As a fellow Caribbean myself, I am proud to say, "Allyuh,
Vigilante is de rell ting, man. Gwon see de movie at de Pan African Film
Festival before it dun. If yuh doh see it, yuh go be rell sorry!"
4 comments:
Niceness. Can't wait to see my fellow barbadians on the big screen. Proud of you all
Barbados to de world!!! Congrats to Dave & Marcia Weekes & the "Vigilante... The Crossing" team on this & following achievements... lots of work on a job well done. Lookin' forward to watching it. The sky is the limit & they have done us truly proud!
Barbados to de World!!! Congrats to Dave & Marcia Weekes & "The Vigilante...The Crossing" Team on this & future achievements. Lots of hard work, commitment & a job well done...the sky's the limit & they've done us proud... and I know God's gonna reward this labour of love. Jah Bless!
Thanks for your comments. This was a well written and balanced article. We're definitely all about speading positivity in this world. The Bajan Premiere is Mar 6 with local shows following. Thanks again for believing I us. God Bless!
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