Carnival, queerness, and Caribbean landscapes : the distinctive cinema of Maria Govan

Abstract

This dissertation examines the films Rain (2008) and Play the Devil (2013) by Bahamian filmmaker Maria Govan to explore how she portrays contemporary Caribbean queer and cisgender characters. The study investigates how Govan uses these two feature films to depict Caribbean cultural identity, poverty, drug addiction, violence, discrimination, and resistance. Through the use of Carnival celebrations, the Caribbean Sea and other bodies of water, and tropical landscapes in The Bahamas and Trinidad, Govan anchors her characters in the region while exploring contemporary masculinities and the ways in which Caribbean citizens navigate queerness, religion, and belonging. Additionally, the study identifies recurring motifs of resistance and the reclamation of space, suggesting that Caribbean films play a crucial role in global discussions on postcolonial identity. This research contributes to the growing field of Caribbean cinema studies, offering insights into Caribbean film as a vital cultural product that challenges dominant.