La Rue Cases-Nègres

Preceded by introductory remarks by the curatorial and organisational team

Martinique, 1930: Beneath the island’s lush beauty lies a harsh socioeconomic reality. While adults endure grueling labor in the sugarcane fields, the impoverished village of Rue Cases-Nègres belongs to the children—including eleven-year-old orphan José. Realizing that little has changed since the days of slavery, his devoted grandmother, M’an Tine, resolves to secure him an education so he can escape the settlement and a lifetime of unforgiving labor.
In her acclaimed feature debut Sugar Cane Alley, adapted from Joseph Zobel’s novel, writer-director Euzhan Palcy blends lyrical naturalism with sharp social critique.