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Friday, March 6, 2009

Filming Begins

We arrived in Grenada, feeling that blast of hot air as you step off the plane and trundle down to the tarmac, the sweet smell of the tropics. This is Point Salines, soon to be Maurice Bishop International and a poignant start to our trip. ‘So that’s the overly-long runway,’ one of the boys says. Yes, this is the infamous airport, the Soviet satellite, the military base with a runway too long to accommodate mere tourist planes - the airport that helped justify an American invasion. Dan cheekily gets some shots as we walk down the steps, but it’s okay, this isn’t Gatwick. No one pounces on us apart from a smiling lady from the tourist board who is here to whisk us away through customs. Mental note: must always remember to feign filmmaking status to avoid long queues at airports.

We spend the late afternoon doing a little political site-seeing, grabbing the bus into town and taking a hike up to Fort George. Here the Revolution unravelled in dramatic fashion when crowds of people stormed the fort and military headquarters, after freeing their leader from house arrest. Here too they saw him gunned down, that is if they weren’t running to save themselves or taking their chances by clambering over the cliff face, some dropping to their deaths by the sea.

So goes the story, and this is what we’re here to unravel. What went so terribly wrong that made friends turn against friends and divided families down the middle. So I’m thinking about this as we’re exploring the fort and the sun’s golden glows are reflecting off every building in the distance. Such a beautiful place, yet the fort is almost medieval, broken and bruised. I wonder if it’s Hurricane Ivan, or Regan’s bombs that are more to blame for its state of decay. A group of kids are playing basketball where Maurice and his supporters were lined up and shot. Occasionally the ball bounces off the plaque that lists the names of the dead.

Market Square and I’m doing my tour guide thing to get the guys acquainted. Vendors are closing down for the day but still eager to make a sale from us fresh-off-the-boat ‘tourists’. A radio is blaring amidst the hustle and bustle, but hang on, I know this, I’ve heard it before. A voice booms and a crowd cheers. He’s talking about the airport, making fun of the ‘pretense’ that it is a development for tourism. The voice is Maurice Bishop’s and it turns out his memory is alive and well for George, the bar owner who is playing his speeches loud and proud throughout the whole of this month. It’s 30 years next week since the revolution began yet for some, like George, the memories are as fresh as yesterday.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, sounds like you're already right in the middle of everything. I hope you get some great footage!

Can't wait to hear more.

Bex
x

Debi said...

I'm so delighted you're blogging as you go and sharing your journey to find the truth with us all.

I can feel the tropical sun radiating from my screen as I read your evocative words. My heart is lifted by the knowledge that the airport is to be named after Maurice and that his voice is still being heard after all these years.

Thank you! xxx

Hayley said...

Nice blog Faye - makes me want to be there too! Keep them coming.. we'll be following your journey, x H&J

Unknown said...

i am proud of you love, keep us up to date we are rooting for you.I know it would be interesting. Take care regards to the guys. mum x

Anonymous said...

Incredible stuff.
Can't wait to hear more.

And, of course, see what you're filming.

Have been telling loads of people about this.

x Anders

Faye said...

Thanks everyone...more Blogage on the way, just been soo busy!


xx

Anonymous said...

Great work Faye, I look our for more!
:):)

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Anonymous said...

Dear Faye,
I see it has been months since you updated but I am very interested to know how the film is going. I am currently beginning to formulate my topic for my MA thesis. I am starting with a broad interest in the visual history of the revolution and invasion. So I am starting by exploring how visual media has represented and interpreted these events....by/for whom.

Please contact me at malaikabsl [a] gmail [dot] com. Let me know how your project is going. I believe I had heard about your efforts from one or two colleagues in Grenada.

Love & Light
Malaika