BARBADIANS WAILED while bidding farewell to relatives at the Screw Dock in The City, today.
However, this was a scene scripted as part of the Panama Fever: A Caribbean Journey documentary.
The actors donned 19th Century clothing, some of them carrying valises and sacks, to re-enact the journey undertaken to build the Panama Canal in 1907.
As the harbour master called the boarding number of the travellers, including that of the main character Prince Collymore being played by Adrian Green, outbursts came from those being left behind.
This is the third phase of the film project which is directed and produced by Alison Saunders, who said she intends to enter the documentary into film festivals.
Saunders said the project also has personal significance as two of her ancestors were part of the construction in which 40 000 Barbadians laboured and 5 000 West Indians lost their lives.
“The main character is a real ancestor of mine who went to Panama, Prince Collymore. My great grandfather was a character in the film John Henry Collymore and he would have been Prince’s uncle,” Saunders said.
This part of the project was sponsored by the Arts and Sports Fund, administered by the Ministry of Culture.
Scenes were shot at the Panama Canal during the 100th anniversary celebrations. (LT)
