Moko Jumbie Film

     This film follows the story of a girl, Asha, who returns home to Trinidad, where she lived as a child. Similar to some of the literature we have read, there is a sense of contrasting duality to Asha's story. While she is beginning to have a bit of a love story with her aunt's neighbor, Roger, she also seems to be haunted by past experiences from this place she is returned, her family even accusing her of talking to spirits at one point. As we have read, I believe this might stem and draw some roots from African Voodoo that reached parts of the Caribbean. During one of these experiences, Asha is told, "That was no man, that was the spirit of Moko." This struggle between two feelings helps guide the film and goes along with Asha's journey to what seems to be self-actualization. She has these contradicting feelings about being back in the Caribbean.

    While she is enjoying the interactions and relationship with Roger, the flashbacks of sort seem to be bothering her. At one point, she wants to let Roger into her past saying, "I want you to see my memories, I don't know when I'll be back here again." Her aunt, whose house she is at, does not approve of Roger being at her house. On several occasions, we get insight on the male dominance in the culture, Asha once being told by Roger's guardian (he says it is not his dad), "stay a while, see how big a man can be." This was interesting to me, as it related to some of the literature we have read about gender interactions in these places. Another connection I made between this film and one of the stories we have read was to 'To Da-duh, in Memoriam.' Similar to Asha, the protagonist in that story has come to the Caribbean and is reminded by familial history. At the end of this movie, Asha talks about the desire to return to India and I was left thinking the same thing as I was after reading the story about Da-duh - how many people never get to experience the world outside of their homes?

-cs

Comments

  1. JP RicheyNovember 22, 2020 at 9:13 PM

    I like that you have compared this To Da-Duh, in Memoriam. I had not thought about that but it is interesting to see how both girls live among the “colonists,” or the hegemony in metropolitan cities and return to their homelands which are the “colonies.” Both girls struggle with their identities and unhomeliness. In Moko Jumbie, Asha’s character is “other “ but ends up being oppressor in relation to Roger and his family where colorism is apparent.

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