Write a short response to the film "Sugar Cane Alley." Consider the story, characters, plot, and themes. Also give some attention to the film techniques that were used. You can focus on just one or two elements, or one or two scenes. Offer an overall interpretation of your chosen aspect of the film that is grounded in some specific detail. You may also choose to compare "Sugar Cane Alley" to Miguel Street. How are they related? What effect did watching the movie after reading the stories have on your original response to the book?
Your response should be at least two substantive paragraphs.
After you have posted your own response to the film, respond to at least one of your classmates posts.
Your own response and your reply to a classmate's post are both due by 11:59PM, on Tuesday November 25th.
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ReplyDeleteI believe that one of Sugar Cane Alley's theme shows that of the nonviolent side of imperialism. Throughout the whole movie, you hardly see any harsh violence like that seen in Battle of Algiers. However, the story is focused on a very special and curious boy named Jose as we watch the process of him growing up. The producers of the movie uses the old style approach by making the story seem like a gentle imperialistic documentary of daily life on african slaves working on the French West Indian island of Martinique in the early 1930's.
ReplyDeleteJose in my opinion symbolizes a boy who comes from a segregated and during the time slaved race as he uses his wisdom to ladder up the chart social acceptance and culture. You can see this when he gets his scholarship and goes to Fort-de-France in Martinique. When he is accused of cheating for writing such of a excellent paper, he runs to his good friend Carmen in tears. The usually supportive Carmen, shockingly provides no comfort for the sad boy and proudly shows Jose the rich French house that he is working for not to mention the mistress who lives there having affection for Carmen. Feeling even more lost, Jose is
disappointed and surprised of Carmen's lack of empathy. Personally, I believe that if any other french boy wrote such of a good essay that Jose wrote, they would be applauded by the teacher. But since Jose, being the only black kid at the school, is from the African race who were currently slaves at the time, is viewed differently and accused of cheating. This scene supports the idea of nonviolent imperialism because the teacher was biased against Jose for being black and writing a great essay.