Rain

Screening at the Chicago Film Festival: Rain, directed by Maria Govan

Synopsis from the film's website:

One of the first indigenous feature films to come out of the Bahamas, Rain (introducing Renel Brown) steers us away from the simplistic perception of a postcard paradise, instead taking us "over the hill" into the challenged life of a young local girl determined to get to know the mother who abandoned her as a young child.

Rain is a spirited fourteen-year old who, after the death of her grandmother (Irma P. Hall), forgoes the sheltered, simple life of her home on Ragged Island to seek out her estranged mother in the big city of Nassau.

Her dreams of a loving reconciliation are quickly shattered when she meets Glory (Nicki Micheaux), a scarred, proud, guarded woman bearing no resemblance to the mother she had hoped for. Glory's self destructive lifestyle, diminished by drug abuse and prostitution, is rudely awakened by the imminent role of motherhood.

Confronted by unforeseeable trials, Rain's passion for running and deeply rooted spirit brings two allies into her life: an insightful and inspiring track coach and a charming, rebellious teenage neighbor. And in time, Rain's spirit and talent take her to unimaginable heights.

Shot in a style that combines gritty realism, a bold and unforgettable color palette, soulful Bahamian music, and the use of local actors alongside seasoned pros, Rain takes us on a journey into the heart of a child, into the pulse of a country and the spirit of its people.