The Tribune

BAHAMIAN filmmaker Andrew Beckford is getting set for the premiere of his new film, “Chained: Island In The Sun”.
Mr Beckford recently completed his debut film, which he considers a four-year “labour of love project”. The film – which has the tag line, “A Tale of Courage and Bravery” – will be released tomorrow at Galleria Cinema JFK.

It is a historical docudrama about slavery in the Bahamas. It is focused on the “blind spot” in our history that was not told from the perspective of the African slave, Mr Beckford said.

“We learned who the Governor was in that time period and we know all the characters were English, Spanish and French. But what about our ancestors, the African slave. Who recorded their conversations and what they actually experienced? Who were the heroes and villains during that time period? We will never know.

“So this docudrama is an effort to fill in that blind spot in our history so that we can gain a new perspective on where we came from and how far we have arrived as a people.”

All the information gathered for the film, he said, was drawn from available history and documents, and meticulously researched for accurate names and places.

“The costumes are authentic and set pieces were constructed to depict that time period,” he said.

The cast was drawn from every aspect of society from Lyford Cay to Deveaux Street, Mr Beckford said, and they all enthusiastically supported the project.

“This movie was intended to be seen by all Bahamians and the world at large,” he said.

Movie synopsis

Two centuries of oppression come to a head when a runaway slave conspires to strike back at the plantations of New Providence.

Set in 1790, slave owners and local residents struggle with conflicting moral attitudes over the treatment of slaves and the inevitability of emancipation. As the Governor struggles to maintain the status quo amidst ridicule over the rise of dissident slaves, the colony braces for an uprising.