Small Island
Directed by John Alexander. Starring Naomie Harris, David Oyelowo, Ruth Wilson and Benedict Cumberbatch.
World War II England and its colony Jamaica are the focus of this intense and probing film. The main characters are two couples: Jamaican immigrants Hortense and husband Gilbert and Britons, Queenie and husband Bernard. Hortense and Gilbert are anxious to relocate to the genteel yet powerful England, the Motherland, that they have learned about since their youth. Hortense dreams of the stately homes with doorbells and electric lights in every room. Gilbert fights on Britain’s side during the war for the equality that he expects when he moves to England from his “small island”. They find their dreams sidetracked by racial stereotypes and intolerance in their new surroundings. Hortense and Gilbert rent a room from Queenie whose husband Bernard is “missing” after the war. Queenie and Bernard’s relationship was fragile before Bernard left for his wartime post and Queenie endures hardships while he is gone.. The experience of being on her own opens her eyes to prejudice around her but also her heart to the affections of another man. The result is a secret that affects all the characters and changes the course of their lives. In the end, Gilbert reflects that England is also a “small island” – small in acceptance and tolerance of others. The situations experienced by each character results in raw emotion that the viewer can feel truly feel and the historical setting is enlightening.
Directed by John Alexander. Starring Naomie Harris, David Oyelowo, Ruth Wilson and Benedict Cumberbatch.
World War II England and its colony Jamaica are the focus of this intense and probing film. The main characters are two couples: Jamaican immigrants Hortense and husband Gilbert and Britons, Queenie and husband Bernard. Hortense and Gilbert are anxious to relocate to the genteel yet powerful England, the Motherland, that they have learned about since their youth. Hortense dreams of the stately homes with doorbells and electric lights in every room. Gilbert fights on Britain’s side during the war for the equality that he expects when he moves to England from his “small island”. They find their dreams sidetracked by racial stereotypes and intolerance in their new surroundings. Hortense and Gilbert rent a room from Queenie whose husband Bernard is “missing” after the war. Queenie and Bernard’s relationship was fragile before Bernard left for his wartime post and Queenie endures hardships while he is gone.. The experience of being on her own opens her eyes to prejudice around her but also her heart to the affections of another man. The result is a secret that affects all the characters and changes the course of their lives. In the end, Gilbert reflects that England is also a “small island” – small in acceptance and tolerance of others. The situations experienced by each character results in raw emotion that the viewer can feel truly feel and the historical setting is enlightening.
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