Sugar Cane Alley Directed by Euzhan Palcy

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“Sugar Cane Alley” directed by Euzhan Palcy was filmed in Martinique in 1983; a period after slavery was abolished. The film tells the story of 11years orphan, Jose, who was born on a French-speaking island of Martinique. The living condition of Jose and other characters in the film reflects many of the same ideologies of slavery from many years before. This paper will summarize the whole film and will additionally highlight some of the Caribbean themes covered in the course.
In Martinique, almost everyone works in a sugar cane field. They cut sugar cane in the overseer’s fields, which barely provides money to live off. Their poor condition can be picked up in one scene, when during the play, one child broke the precious sugar bowl of Ma.Tine. As a result, she beats Jose because it was the only bowl they had. Ma.Tine, a grandmother of Jose is hard-working and God fearing woman. She never allows Jose to work in a cane field because she believed that one day their poor condition will be over and Jose will provide them a good life. So, the only way to come out of their difficult situation was to do well in the school for Jose. This is exactly what Jose does; he studies hard and takes an exam, which awarded him a license to attend a school in Fort-de-France.
In the meantime, he becomes a friend with Mr. Medeouze, a very old man. He is so old that he remembers his day of slavery, and tells Jose that working in the cane fields is also a form of slavery. Furthermore, he dreams back of going to Africa someday, and Jose says that he will follow him. In addition, Medeouze also says that his parents were emigrated from Africa. This scene indicates the slavery period that was discussed in the class because during Sugar Plantation System, whe...

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...nd contextualizing scenes. Jose and Ma.Tine are portrayed as a person, who is trying to break out the vicious circle of working and dying in the cane field. Furthermore, this film also focuses on two levels of pyramidal structure, where one group dominates over the other though they emerge from the same group. The classic example of this is seen in one scene, where an African woman hires Jose for her work and though she know his condition; she made him late for the school. Moreover, after sneaking from her work, Jose broke her utensils. This scene can be related to Cesaire’s “Boomerang effect”, because as Europe by its impact had constructed destruction in itself. Likewise, this African lady had created breaking of utensils by herself by making Jose annoyed and late for the class. Thus, this film conveys a many messages without diminishing the level of the messages.

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