Film by Patra Spanou has acquired the international sales rights for Johanne Gomez TerreroThe coming-of-age story of “Sugar Island” makes its world premiere at Venice Days, an independent section parallel to the series Venice Film FestivalThe first trailer has been released (above).
In the film, an unplanned pregnancy thrusts Makenya into adulthood, forcing her to prematurely assume responsibility for her body and her life, which stretches her boundaries and allows her to unlock new levels of understanding about the society she inhabits, as well as her spirituality.
In a statement, Gómez Terrero said: “When my teenage niece became pregnant as a result of rape, I witnessed how her environment shamed her instead of supporting and protecting her. At the time, I was immersed in research in the bateyes, the communities of sugar cane workers. I extrapolated this family situation to the context of the bateyes and realized how common early pregnancy is in peripheral areas. In the process of creating the film, I delved into both my own experiences and the territory, as well as national archives, establishing connections between the private and the public, highlighting how the society that contains us also imprisons us.”
Patra Spanou, director of Patra Spanou Film, said: “By putting a Generation Z teenager at the centre of her story, the director creates a new vision of the sugar island society, a young, modern, diverse, creative and politically aware community. Makenya’s story conveys messages about migration, human rights, economic and social injustice in a modern and accessible way, enriched with strong images, whether artistic representations, vogue, religious celebrations or magical realism. A film capable of appealing to audiences of all generations, all over the world.”
The film is produced by Fernando Santos Díaz and co-produced by David Baute. It is a co-production between Guasabara Cine from the Dominican Republic and Tinglado Film from Spain. It has the support of DGcine, Fonprocine, ICAA, Programa Ibermedia, Primera Mirada and Televisión Canaria.