Children of God

by Kareem Mortimer

Secrets & Lies Screening:
Friday, March 18th | 6:30 p.m. | George Washington House

Bahamas | 2010 | Drama | 93 mins | English | 14A | Web Site

Set against the backdrop of a nation grappling with violent homophobic crime and offering a scathing examination of the underlying hatred for gays rampant in Caribbean societies, Bahamian Kareem Mortimer’s debut narrative feature tells the story of three very different individuals: Lena, the conservative, deeply religious wife of a secretly gay firebrand pastor; Romeo, a handsome young black man hiding his sexuality from his close-knit and loving family; and, Jonny, the conflicted and creatively-blocked white artist in search of himself. All three head for the spectacularly beautiful and tranquil island of Eleuthera, each with a different reason for escaping current circumstances. Soon, their disparate worlds collide in unexpected and affecting ways.

This uncommon portrayal of love, loneliness, tolerance, secrets and self-acceptance takes viewers on a poignant multifaceted journey that is enlightening, courageous and disquieting all at the same time. Children of God shocks to the very core with its startling conclusion.

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About the Filmmaker

Born in Nassau, Bahamas, Kareem Mortimer has been in film since the age of 17. A writer, director and producer, he has worked on a number of award-winning documentaries both in the US and his native country. Mortimer’s themes in both feature and documentary work deal with issues of identity and discrimination.

His debut feature, Children of God, is the first narrative feature from the Caribbean with LGBT themes. A second feature, Wind Jammers (2010), which he co-directed with Richard von Maur, is a children’s movie that deals with racism.