Claudia Frankel: Sugar Cane Alley Response

Sugar Cane Alley, directed by Euzhan Palcy, illustrates life in the Caribbean island of Martinique. The film follows the coming of age of Jose as he pursues an education and navigates a difficult world. This film is also a perfect example of the effects of imperialism and empires. Jose and his community live a repressed life. Most of the adults result to drinking to cope with the misery of having to work in the fields for little pay. Something I found interesting was the distinction between the children, namely Jose, and the adults. Palcy well contrasted the youthful enthusiasm with the depressed and surrendered adults. Following Jose’s life more closely, allows the reader to gain a better understanding as to the oppression the community lives under. One of the most revealing scenes in the film is when Jose is reading his essay about the lives of poor blacks that work in the sugar cane fields. I was amazed that such a young boy could be so perceptive as to the issues plaguing his community. Jose’s character brings attention to the oppression and subordination the workers live with. His essay brilliantly outlines the cycle in which the poorly paid and denigrated workers are unhappy, but can’t seek autonomy and thus are driven to alcohol and drugs to cope with their misery.

What I find even more interesting is that Jose, the person seemingly the most aware of the issues in his community, is the one able to break from it. This demonstrates that by recognizing the oppression and separating himself from it, he is able to find a better life and more freedoms. Recognizing the cycle of subjugation by an oppressive society is extremely powerful and important. Palcy utilizes Jose’s character to do so. What’s more, by using a child, Palcy is further humanizing the experience. Jose is perceived as a young and innocent child that the audience can sympathize with. By using him to bring awareness to the issues, Palcy is invoking further support from the audience. I truly enjoyed this film. Jose and his friends brought light to a visibly difficult story of poverty and subjugation. It was enjoyable, while conveying important issues about imperialism and oppression.