Julien Neaves, Caribbean Head Writer
In my unending search to find and review Caribbean film content from throughout the region I discovered 2020 Antiguan drama short It’s My Time Now. When I say “discovered”, I meant I went on YouTube, searched “Caribbean short film” and this came up. If it works, no? It is published by Wadadli Plus (Antigua Plus), a group of filmmakers, actors, writers and producers as well as post-production personnel who seek to show case their talents to the world, and are the same folks who published The Guest which I reviewed in April 2021 (how time flies).
It’s My Time Now follows Sandy (Bridgete Handiford, who also wrote the screenplay), a former bank manager with a ne’er-do-well young husband (Junior Weathered) who refuses to financially support their two young children unless she gives him sex. The film opens with him forcing himself on her in a disturbing scene of sexual assault. The husband is a real piece of crap and very easy to despise. With little choice Sandy turns to panhandling, and while getting help from a kindly stranger her luck suddenly changes.
I don’t go into these low budget films with the highest of expectations, but this one was solid enough. The acting is pretty decent, especially from the two leads. The dialogue is serviceable and made me laugh out loud a few times; there are some Hollywood comedies I can’t even say that about (looking at you Baywatch!). The plot is a very familiar wish fulfilment, turn-the-tables type of story. And there is a moral about treating people well despite their station in life, though Sandy’s behaviour at time makes the whole “Golden Rule” message kind of murky. But It’s My Time Now is a light watch and you could find worse ways to waste 19 minutes.
Score: 5.5 out of 10
You can watch It’s My Time Now right now (Get it? You get it) by clicking here. And you can check out more Antiguan content below:
Julien “Editor Jules” Neaves is a TARDIS-flying, Force-using Trekkie whose bedroom stories were by Freddy Krueger, learned to be a superhero from Marvel, but dreams of being Batman. I love promoting Caribbean film (Cariwood), creating tabletop games and I am an aspiring author. I say things like “12 flavours of awesome sauce”. Read more.