Sugar Island immerses us in the Dominican Republic’s sugarcane fields, where Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager, navigates an unwanted pregnancy and the harsh labor that defines her world.
Director Johanné Gómez Terrero masterfully blends social realism, spirituality, and Afro-futurism to expose the enduring legacy of colonial exploitation. As Makenya confronts family burdens and the specter of displacement, a mysterious theater troupe's arrival illuminates the haunting connections between past and present struggles.
As Makenya battles for her future, her grandfather fights for justice, and displacement looms, the film delivers a lyrical, visually rich exploration of identity, survival, and the enduring power of cultural memory.
Cinemapolis: Tuesday March 31, 7pm – filmmaker Johanné Gómez Terrero will join us via Zoom for post-screening Q&A led by Enrique González-Conty
trailer
Sugar Island
Johanné Gómez Terrero, Spain/Dominican Republic, 2024, 91 mins