Martinique / 1983 / 103mins / Historical Drama / French

Set in Martinique in 1931, Sugar Cane Alley paints a rich impasto of native life under French colonial rule, filtered through the coming-of-age of a bright, sweetly opportunistic boy learning to reconcile the value of his shanty-town roots with the education opportunities that beckon him to the big city.

Euzhan Palcy

Euzhan Palcy is considered by many as one of the world's most influential filmmakers. She is best known for her films focusing on social change and cultural issues, Palcy’s passion spills into all areas of the cinematic lexicon to include the thriller, comedy, and animation and action genres. The winner of numerous awards over the past thirty years including the Sojourner Truth Award presented to her by Roger Ebert at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, Palcy is the first woman of African descent to ever direct a Hollywood Studio movie, MGM's A Dry White Season (1989) starring Donald Sutherland, Marlon Brandon, Susan Sarandon, Zakes Mokae and Jurgen Prochnow. Her first feature, Sugar Cane Alley (1983), seen through the eyes of a young boy who experiences the love and sacrifice of a poor black family living on a Martinique sugar cane plantation in the 1930s, won more than 17 international awards, including the Venice Film Festival Silver Lion, as well as the Coppa Volpi (Volpi Cup) for Best Lead Actress Award (Darling Legitimus). It also won the prestigious César Award for best first feature film and the first Public Award at FESPACO. Learn More