A six-part documentary film about Jamaican national hero Norman Washington Manley has been launched and will be available to schools. The documentary explores Manley’s life as a soldier, barrister, and leader.
Production Details
The film, which explores the life of the Jamaican patriot, took six years to produce. The production cost $6 million, with assistance from the Culture, Health, Arts and Education (CHASE) Fund.
Launch and Availability
The documentary has already launched in North America. The Norman Manley Foundation intends for the documentary, released on VHS and DVD, to inspire students and to serve as a valuable resource for teaching Jamaican history and civic pride. Ainsley Henriques, Chairman of the Norman Manley Foundation, stated,
This is the first full-length movie about a Jamaican patriot, a Jamaican national hero.
The launch occurred at the Palace Cineplex in New Kingston. The documentary will be made available to schools as a teaching aid. According to Henriques, the project highlights Norman Manley as a role model for present and future generations.
Director’s Perspective
Cynthia Wilmot, director and producer of the documentary, stated that while the idea of the film was exciting, she initially had concerns about the production being perceived as boring, given Manley’s reputation for being reserved. She noted,
Let’s face it. He was not as flamboyant as his cousin, Alex (Alexander Bustamante), or his son, Michael. When we began to do our research, he emerged as a well-rounded person, showing sides of his personality that we had not expected to find.
Wilmot also said research revealed that Manley was a “bad boy” in school and his teachers didn’t expect much from him. Hilary Nicholson also worked as a producer on the film, which was produced by Video for Change. The documentary explores aspects of Manley’s life, including love letters to Edna Manley.
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