After a hit opening in the United States and winning the 'Best Film' award in Belize last year, the long-awaited and much-anticipated movie, Guiana 1838, will premiere here later this month at the Strand Cinema in Georgetown.

According to the U.S.-based Guyanese director of the movie, Mr. Rohit Jagessar, all proceeds from the premiere night of the movie billed for October 26 will go to charity. The feature film will then open to the Guyanese public from October 27 at the Strand Cinema.

The film, which was a hit in New York, had its Trinidad premiere last year when the proceeds went to assist in Guyana's flood relief efforts.

Guiana 1838 was filmed entirely in Guyana in the early part of 2004, when Jagessar led a team of 60 actors and crew members to Guyana and made what is regarded as the first feature film in Guyana this century.

Shooting of the film took place over a two-month period in Corentyne, Berbice in 2004 and Jagessar has since been encouraging other filmmakers to look into making films in Guyana.

Guiana 1838 tells the story of the abolition of slavery in British Guiana and its aftermath. The film takes the viewer to great depths, exploring the reaction of the freed Afro-Guyanese and the incoming Indians in the year 1838.

Guiana 1838 stars veteran Bollywood actor Kumar Gaurav as Laxman and up and rising actress Aarti Bathija as Urmila, with British actors Rufus Graham and Thomas Garvey as plantation Overseer James Bullock and Driver David.

Guyanese actors, Henry Rodney plays Cabi, an African maroon, and Neville Williams plays his father Amie in the film.

Proprietor of the Strand Cinema and the film's official local distributor, Mr. Anand Persaud noted that in a recent interview, Jagessar had pointed out that while making the film it was very clear in his mind that his mission is to tell an important story.
"Throughout filming I chose to remain true to the story as opposed to focus on brilliant direction and artistic achievements. While I urge every Guyanese to make it their duty to see my film, I ask those looking for fast paced Hollywood action and song and dance to please stay away from seeing the film and save their hard earned dollars (since) Guiana 1838 is not that kind of cinema," he said.

Released on September 24, 2004 in New York, Guiana 1838 took a bite at the box office by beating every Hollywood film released that weekend when it scored the highest screen average in North America. To this day, the film's publicists said only 21 Hollywood movies managed to score a higher screen average in the history of Hollywood.

Guiana 1838 also won the 'Best Film' at the Belize International Film Festival last year.

Jagessar is urging each and every Guyanese parent to make it their duty to take their children to the screening of Guiana 1838 as many times possible.

According to the director, embedded in the dialogue of the film is a treasure chest of historical and background information on the people of Guyana. The Director said the film serves audiences well when they pay close attention to the dialogue as it threads its way through one of the most important parts of Guyanese history.

The Guyanese filmmaker's upcoming films include The Pork-knockers (a suspense thriller) and the two remaining parts to complete the 1838 Trilogy.

The Pork-knockers will be filmed entirely in Guyana while the two remaining parts of the 1838 trilogy will be shot in Guyana and Trinidad as well as Britain, Moscow and Washington and other parts of North America and the Caribbean.

Guiana 1838 comes home to Guyana on October 26 under arrangements by the film's official West Indies distributor Mr. Rajnauth Maharaj of VIC Ltd in Trinidad and Persaud of the Strand Deluxe Cinema in Guyana.

Persaud also told this newspaper yesterday he is "very optimistic" the movie will do "extremely well" in Guyana and promised that all preparations are in place for a gala premiere on October 26, similar to that given for the recent premiere of Rainbow Raani. (MARK RAMOTAR)

Thursday, October 05, 2006