ShowingsSat, Apr 26th, 7:30 PM @ 408 Zankel

Sugar Island immerses us in the Dominican Republic’s sugarcane fields, where Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager, navigates an unwanted pregnancy and the harsh labor that defines her world.

Director Johanné Gómez Terrero masterfully blends social realism, spirituality, and Afro-futurism to expose the enduring legacy of colonial exploitation. As Makenya confronts family burdens and the specter of displacement, a mysterious theater troupe’s arrival illuminates the haunting connections between past and present struggles.

As Makenya battles for her future, her grandfather fights for justice, and displacement looms, the film delivers a lyrical, visually rich exploration of identity, survival, and the explores the enduring power of cultural memory.

Directed by Johanne Gómez Terrero, 2024, 91 minutes, Dominican Republic, Drama, Spanish, Haitian; Haitian Creole (with English subtitles)