WHEN MORNING COMES (2022)
Special Features: Q&A with filmmaker Kelly Fyffe-Marshall and producer Tamar Bird
Jamal (Djamari Roberts), a young boy in Jamaica, has just been suspended from elementary school following an altercation. His widowed mother, Neesha (Shaquana Wilson), is so incensed she can't hear Jamal's protestations of innocence. Afraid this may become a habit and convinced that her mother in Canada may be able to provide more opportunities for a rambunctious, strong-willed kid like Jamal, she hatches a life-changing plan. Terrified by this, Jamal runs off, spending the next few days living with his best friend, Deshane (Jarden Crooks), the girl he's crushing on and substitute father figures, while also visiting the grave of his beloved father. Writer and director Kelly Fyffe-Marshall's gift for capturing complex, conflicting emotions is evident here, sparking comparisons to Euzhan Palcy's 1983 classic SUGAR CANE ALLEY. But what really stands out is the film's courage — and the director's willingness to explore painful themes no matter how daunting or heartbreaking. (Note adapted from the Toronto International Film Festival.) DIR/SCR Kelly Fyffe-Marshall; PROD Tamar Bird, Iva Golubovic, Sasha Leigh Henry. Canada/Jamaica, 2022, color, 87 min. NOT RATED
No AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 87 Minutes
Opening Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Genre: Drama
