It’s always eye-opening to expand one’s cinematic boundaries, and Trinidadian film "God Loves the Fighter" is a fantastic example of the fresh creativity that can come from a place that hasn’t been seen on screen enough. Landing on VOD platforms (iTunes and Amazon) on July 7th, the film, from director and native son Damian Marcano, is a visual and aural journey into the rougher spots of paradise on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. The film follows several different characters as they seek money, power, purpose and redemption among the drugs, guns, and prostitutes of the ghetto Laventile. Narrated with a rollicking sense of rhythm and verse by street poet King Curtis (Lou Lyons), and soundtracked by Q Major and Freetown Collective, "God Loves the Fighter" has an intrinsic musicality, which adds to the fairytale, fable-like aspect of the film. The intense visual style struts and skitters from moment to moment, creating a visceral, hyperreal depiction of this place.
Watch: Exclusive Clip From Trinidadian Crime Film ‘God Loves The Fighter’
"God Loves the Fighter" finds its predecessors in films like "City of God" and "The Harder They Come," but the twisty crime tale filled with many different wild characters also feels a bit like early Guy Ritchie films. It is infused with the essence of this place, and is as unique and specific to Trinidad as those films are to their settings. To see a piece of cinema made on these streets, and one that captures the cultural melting pot as well as this one does is a singular experience. And today we have an exclusive clip from the film, a moment when two kids experience some of the very real dangers that exist around them every day, that gives you a got sense of the film’s vibe.
And, check out the video for "Good Swimma," one of the main tracks from the film by Q Major and Freetown Collective and also directed by Damian Marcano, exhibiting his signature style. We’ll bet it instantly ends up on your summer playlist, just in time for July 4th.
"God Loves the Fighter" hits DVD and VOD on iTunes and Amazon on July 7th.
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Also available for UK and Ireland on the VoD platform FilmDoo.
Very refreshing to see a gritty film like this from Trinidad!
The Caribbean has an amazingly diverse landscape and some truly murky territories. Excited to see films exploring that…