Sugar Cane Alley (1983/New Yorker DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Film: B-

 

 

Portraits of what we know as the Third World are becoming more common now than they were a few decades ago, both in documentaries and dramatic films.  Usually, those of the past tend to hold up well and the dramatic Sugar Cane Alley (1983) is one of the more enduring.  Joseph Zobel’s book about a grandmother (Darling Legitimus) doing what she can to help her 11-year-old grandson (Garry Cadenat) stay out of trouble and possibly have a better future if he stays on the right path is charming, authentic, realistic and never falters in its telling of the plight of Martinique.

 

Over twenty years later, it is a more familiar, even predictable tale, though it has always been universal in its tale of elders doing what they can to make sure the next generation does better than the last.  What does make the difference and why this film still holds up is a convincing cast, locations that do a remarkable job of capturing the country in the 1920s and writer/director Euzhan Palcy’s work and vision in bringing this all off.  The film’s reputation has preceded it and it is easy to still see why.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image has problems resolving Video Black and shadow detail, but cinematographer Dominique Chapuis delivers some remarkable camerawork in one of the only major films to ever come out of Martinique.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono fares better, and holds up well for the time it was recorded.  The variety of music offered on the soundtrack all adds up and furthers the narrative quite well.  Sadly, despite being a respected film, there are absolutely no extras.  However, the film is very much worth seeing and if you liked the better parts of Palcy’s Dry White Season, you’ll really like Sugar Cane Alley.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo