A new documentary film about Jamaican national hero Norman Washington Manley has been launched. The six-part film explores his life and work as a soldier, barrister, and leader.
Documentary Details
The documentary took six years to produce. It aims to inspire students and serve as a teaching aid for Jamaican history and civic pride. The documentary is available on VHS and DVD formats and will be distributed to schools throughout Jamaica.
The production cost $6 million, with assistance from the Culture, Health, Arts and Education (CHASE) Fund. Before being released in Jamaica, the documentary was first launched in North America.
Key Figures Speak
Ainsley Henriques, Chairman of the Norman Manley Foundation, spoke at the documentary launch at Palace Cineplex in New Kingston.
This is the first full-length movie about a Jamaican patriot, a Jamaican national hero.
Cynthia Wilmot, Director and Producer of the documentary for Video for Change, also shared insights. Wilmot noted the challenges in portraying Manley compared to his more flamboyant relatives.
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.
Hilary Nicholson also served as Producer of the film. The launch of the film coincides with the 113th anniversary of Norman Manley's birth. Manley was also known to write music reviews for The Gleaner. He was the husband of Edna Manley and father of Michael Manley.
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