Modern Barbados with a love story old as time

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Director Shakira Bourne, who is also writter for adapting the magical fairy tale “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to fix a more modern world and it’s society. The natural beauty of the island perfectly captured by the cinematographer Robin Whenary is a perfect combinations between modern environment and the well know W. Shakespeares tale.

The film won a Best Film at the London Independent Film Festival and even though there are plenty of discussions of there is a need for another adaptation, the award kind of shows that Caribbean Dream has something different compared to all the other adaptations that we have seen. The film follows four lovers during an annual Barbados Crop Festival. Barbados as the main location of the whole film definitely brings vigour and energy, that you would only find in Caribbean countries. The film uses plenty of cultural elements to bring the whole story to a new destination as well as to establish a connection with a well know story and the viewer.

Hermia (Marina Bye) and Lysander (Jherad Alleyne) love each other and plan a soon to come wedding, however Hermia’s father isn’t exactly happy with his daughters loved one and wants her to marry a more suitable Demitrius (Sam Gillett). Nontheless Hippolyta (Sonia Williams) is madly in love with Demitrius and is willing to do anything just to win his love over. Add a bit of magic, culture or Brabados and both Lysander and Demetrious are now fighting for Hippolyta’s heart, which leads four lovers into some comical situations. The straightforward adaptation combines Caribbean culture into to, bringing the old and well known story with a twist. A Caribbean Dream tries to bring the viewer to a new world where the line between reality and magic is blurred as if you’re dreaming. Story turns even more interesting when staff of the tropical resort turn into magical fairies and try to tamper with the lovers.