Play the Devil

Petrice Jones plays this rather well as an 18 year old Trinidadian that befriends a wealthy local man who becomes infatuated with him. The storyline takes it's time and to be honest, it doesn't really go anywhere before an ending that really rather lets it all down a bit. The potential to get to the bottom of the relationship between the two men - which is, to a certain extent, reciprocal - is underdeveloped, but there is an integrity about Jones' performance that helps carry the production which must have been done on a shoestring budget. It also manages to show us some of the beauty of the islands and of the people. There is potential from this for both the actor and director Maria Govan - it's a good start.

First things first, it is amazing to see a movie set in Trinidad and to get to see and hear the sights and sounds of that place. It's a beautiful place with a lot of culture. In that sense, this movie does a lot for the country. It does very little, however, for its protagonists, who are up against cruel fate and decidedly lose, and for real people in those very same situations. When life gives you lemons, you shouldn't get more of them from a movie.

If I were a gay kid from the Caribbean who finally got to see my world on the big screen, I would be very saddened by what I see. The only movie about me tells me that my life is tragedy and will end in tragedy. That makes this movie cruel and sadistic. The lived experience of people in homophobic cultures is hard enough without having it reflected back on 100-foot screens. This movie should have been about the hope for something better than can, and does, happen for people, even in places like Trinidad.

So when is it okay to show the bad, not just the hopeful good, of being gay in homophobic worlds? The simple answer is when there is no more homophobia. The longer answer is when there is enough representation in film to offer variety. If I were a young girl from a culture that demands my pre-arranged marriage at 12 years old, and I don't want that for myself, I wouldn't want the only movie I get to see about myself being about a young girl who gets married off, raped and then murdered by the end.

The two characters in this movie, James and Greg, are not free to make decisions - everything about their relationship seems pre-destined and nothing can change. There is very little discussion between the two, nor is there evidence of reflection. The two just move haplessly forward to the bitter conclusion. This movie is not fair to them, and it's not fair to those sitting in seats hoping to see something more inspirational than the cruel realities many still find themselves in.

Of course, the reason why I titled my review the way I did is because homosexuality is a massively big deal in Trinidad and, as far as the populace is concerned, punishable by death. For years, Trinidad has been playing a tug of war between the conservatives and progressives. Generally speaking, if you wish to progress outside island society, you have to leave for Europe, the US, Canada, and so on. That's where the characters of "Play the Devil" erred. Trinidad should never be confused with Fire Island, NY or Provincetown, MA where such behaviour is the norm. In any case, the movie was daring and intriguing simply because of the bold subject matter, and also because it gave viewers an in depth look of how the common folk live there. The film itself wasn't great - it was a little slow in parts, but the acting throughout was fine and the cinematography of the countryside and beaches are worth the price of admission. Recommended.

Here we have yet another one of these twisted independent movies where the director/writer insists upon getting the viewer to like the main characters and then ends the film with a sadistic tragedy that dashes all hopes. This movie doesn't fail in that regard. The young leading character comes from poverty but has a lot going for him. He's bright and motivated. He meets a kind, married gay man who wants to help him fulfill his potential and then the writer blows it all apart and shoves a tragic ending down the viewer's throat. Unless you are sadistic and love hopeless tragic endings, then you should avoid this movie. If you prefer to be uplifted, watch something from a screenwriter who wants to focus on the positive.

Good acting minus the older guy. Loved the grandmother and best friend devins acting. Petrice who plays Greg is a rising star. The stereotype of homosexuality being something you are recruited into is sadly worked into the plot and the light skin son being the good smart one and the dark son being the wayward bad one is also a part of the plot and these things show that this film was done by a white and I imagine straight woman thus the lack of authenticity. A good film but these stereotypes bring it down