RAIN
Bahamas, 2008, 93 minutes, Colour.
Renel Brown, Nicki Micheaux, C.C.H. Pounder, Irma P. Hall, Calvin Lockhart.
Directed by Maria Govan.
You don't see many films from the Bahamas so this is an opportunity to visit the Caribbean islands and absorb some atmosphere. However, it is much more than this. It is an opportunity to share hardships and hopes of some of the people.
Rain is actually the name of the central character (Renel Brown), a young girl cared for by her grandmother (Irma P. Hall). On the grandmother's death, she has to leave her island and travel to Nassau to find her mother who is living in a squalid neighbourhood, works as a prostitute and has AIDS.
While the plot lines are familiar enough from other cultures, it is both interesting and emotional to see them played out here. The mother is a tragic figure, potential lost. Rain, like so many children of the next generation, has a great sense of integrity and is trying to learn how to deal with her mother. Her outlet is school – and friendship with a rather wanting-to-be-with-it girl in her class. Rain also has a talent. She is a potential running champion. This is recognised by the athletics coach (CCH Pounder) who fosters her development.
This kind of synopsis might make the film seem slight but the compassionate writing and the strong performances give it a vitality and value beyond its familiarity.
1.A film from the Bahamas? Distinctive? The settings? Culture and background? Issues?
2.The island, the sea, the beaches? Homes? Neighbourhoods? Squalor?
3.Nassau and ordinary life in the city, the Graveyard? Homes, school, the racing track?
4.The musical score, the songs, representing the culture?
5.The title, Rain and her background, her birth, the flashbacks, the storm and the rain, her mother alone? Giving her the name?
6.Her grandmother and her care for her, the grandmother’s religious background, writing the letter to her daughter – and the later reprise as her daughter read it? Her death?
7.Rain, her age, running along the beach, her grandmother’s kindnesses, delivering the food, running in the rain? Her grandmother’s death, preparing for the trip, on the boat, waiting at the wharf, her mother finally coming, walking to the house with her, her shock, the photo of her mother? The sandwich, settling in?
8.Rain’s mother, the background of her life on the island, with her mother, leaving home, prostitution, the birth of Rain? The other prostitute and her chatter in the house? Her clothes, provocative, with men, on drugs, HIV-positive, cutting herself and wanting to prevent Rain from touching the blood? Preparing the food? The school fees and her selling herself? Her illness? Miss Adams’ visit, the news about Rain’s ability as a runner? The touch of hope? Going to the steps of the police station, being taken in? Buying the runners for Rain? Supporting her daughter, going into rehabilitation?
9.Rain at school, the other girls’ attitude towards her, laughing at her? The severe teacher? Miss Adams and the uniform, talking to the teacher, telling her off? Training, Rain and her running, the discussions with Miss Adams, getting up at six am, the training, the girls taking her shoelaces, her ambitions and hopes?
10.The friend from school? Her wanting to be Miss Bahamas? Her size? The drugs, her attitude? Going to church, the denouncing of homosexuality, the friend and Rain walking out? The shop, her father giving the girl money? The assault, the girl helping her?
11.Rain, the physical assault, its effect on her? The man himself, religious language, infected?
12.Miss Adams, her work at the school, helping Rain, the training, talking about her own life, alienation from her father, her partner in the house, making choices? Her helping Rain, affirming her? Going to visit Rain’s mother?
13.The mother, the gift of the shoes, Rain, the race, her ambitions – but seeing her running into the sea? Symbolic?
14.The background of squalor, overcoming failure, potential?
