Childish Gambino’s Film

BY: Sue Carswell

Dostoevsky—and his imprimatur of love, war and carnage—make a return in the form of Donald Glover’s charming 54-minute film, Guava Island. Coachella may soon be over for another year, but this super hush project and tropical caper, which premiered at the noted music festival this past weekend during Childish Gambino’s set, lives on for Amazon Prime customers.

Co-starring Rihanna, who serves as the film’s narrator, (nah, she doesn’t sing) and love interest, the movie opens beautifully with her character, Kofi voicing an animated bedtime tale her mother once told her about the birth of Guava, which once stood for paradise and is now an island under the rule of a nasty despot. Glover plays Deni Maroon, Kofi’s longtime boyfriend, a kind-hearted (and, of course, bare-chested) musician who seeks to unify the island with his songs. He dreams of writing one ode, (the climatic “Saturday”) that will remind the citizens of the magic Guava once had and is now only lore.

While the island’s oppressed residents (ironically it was filmed in Cuba last summer) work seven days a week at the Red Cargo silk factory, Deni, a beloved radio DJ, wants them all to enjoy themselves at a Saturday night music festival. He envisions a moment in time, where they can all be joyful before resuming their dank oppressed lives. While, Kofi (who carries a secret) looks over Deni lovingly and protectively, Deni is too idealistic and takes on the system in the form of a brutal oligarch, played all-too-real by Red Cargo—Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones). He offers Deni $10,000 to leave the island and perhaps take over Deni’s position in Kofi’s life. While one of Deni’s disillusioned co-workers at the factory wants to head to America for his freedom, Deni exclaims, “America is a concept: Anywhere, where in order to get rich, you have to make someone else richer, is America.” This would be a fine time for Gambino’s hit, “This is America,” to come alive and it very well does.(There are plenty of new and old tracks layered throughout the film including “Summertime Magic” and “Feels Like Summer.”)

In the end, will the festival be successful like say a Coachella, or will evil shoo away idealism? The film has Glover’s stylish TV-show Atlanta written all over it. The show’s director, Hiro Murai and screenwriter Stephen Glover (Donald’s brother), create a compelling and likable story, while cinematographer Christian Sprenger’s recreates an extended gritty home movie feel to the landscape. Freedom, for those who have it and the antithesis, those who don’t is at the core here. Fans of Prince’s Purple Rain will recognize Glover not only as skilled singer and performer but as a rising and talented auteur of note.